Turley Publications courtesy photo

Left to right, front row: Assistant Chief Dan Santos, Chief Paul Lupacchino, Deputy Chief Robert Benson, Captain Wess Cassavant; second row: Training Lieutenant Scott Anderson, Lieutenant Joe Landry, Firefighter Jacob Pensinger; third row: Firefighter Jason McNeany, Asst. Hazmat Coordinator David Tebo, Firefighter Brandon Fullam, and Hazmat Coordinator Brian Charron; on the truck clockwise from the top: Firefighters John Pensinger, Dana Searah, Patricia Lupacchino, Jessie Merriam, and Nick Frank.

New fire truck not yet needed

Smoke alarm requirements changed

By Jonathan Cook

Turley Publications Reporter

WEST BROOKFIELD – Just as Fire Chief Paul Lupacchino suspected, a brand new fire truck isn’t needed yet.

After spending $450 to have an emergency vehicle mechanic diagnose the department’s vehicles, it was learned that with repairs of about $40,000, Engine 2 can be used for another eight to ten years. By then it will be 40 years old. According to Lupacchino, that saves the town about $350,000.

Also, a 2004 vehicle was found to have a manufacturer’s defect. Had it not been examined said Lupacchino, “If we were not so persistent on charging through with our goals and objectives for the department, warranties would have expired.” Instead the problem was fixed at no cost to the town, saving $5,000 in repairs.

Since the beginning of the year, the department has had the fire engines examined, conducted training, produced a level budget, and had the heating system evaluated. On top of that, in January and February alone, the fire department responded to one chimney fire, one structure fire, four automatic smoke detector activations, one hazardous waste report, six motor vehicle accidents, two ATV accidents, one burning permit follow-up, four mutual aid requests, one cellar pump request, one report of heavy smoke conditions, one tactical rescue of a truck stuck on the ice and one animal rescue through the ice. 

Lupacchino has also been working on his SAFE program for fifth graders teaching them fire safety and first aid.

More recently Lupacchino has issued a press release notifying the public that smoke alarm regulations have changed. It is now required of those selling a house that they have only photoelectric smoke alarms within 20 feet of a bathroom or kitchen. That’s because photoelectric alarms won’t be falsely activated by steam and kitchen smoke which causes a nuisance that results in the people disabling their alarms.

Elsewhere in the house dual technology will be required using both photoelectric smoke alarms and ionization alarms. Some alarms contain both technologies.

A certificate of compliance will be required as part of a home sale.

“I want to stress that working smoke alarms greatly increase your chances of surviving a fire.” said Lupacchino.

For more information about smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms go to the Department of Fire Service’s website at mass.gov/dfs.

There are currently 16 members of the fire department, Lupacchino said. But to be at full strength, the department should have 24, he said. That’s way, he said, “We want to get new membership. We want to be full by the end of the year.”

He added that, historically speaking, 24 is the number of firefighters needed to make the department run at its most efficient. “I’d love to have a good mix of people,” Lupacchino said. Firefighters can come from all walks of life. However, while reasonable accommodations will be made for those with disabilities, the work of a firefighter has certain characteristics including climbing, crawling and working in all weather conditions. Work is often performed in stressful conditions, as well.

“The department hasn’t been full in I don’t know how long,” he said. But if it fills up this year, Lupacchino still wants more recruits, so he can start a fire department auxiliary. “We’ll put them to work,” he said.

It’s about helping neighbors, he said, and keeping the department “on a constant move toward improvement.”