Updated on

Worthington Fire-Rescue Quarterly Report 4/13/2025

News & Announcements

Fire Chief Michael Dondiego

Quarterly Activity Report to the Select Board

What has your Worthington Fire-Rescue Department been up to lately?

Your Worthington Fire-Rescue Department (WFRD) has a critical need for volunteers to help us protect our families, friends, neighbors & properties in Town and nearby communities.  Older members are retiring. We will train you.  We are paid a nominal stipend for emergency responses and trainings.

If you, or someone you know, may be interested in becoming a First Responder, Fire Fighter or EMT; or helping in other ways, please contact us & leave a message at the Fire Station (238-4445), or myself at (413) 441-0957.  Or please stop by at any regular meetings (2nd Mondays 7pm) and trainings (3rd and 4th Mondays, 7 pm) at the Fire Station.  We also accept junior members age 15+ with parental consent.
[email protected].

Highlights of WFRD activities for January 1st through ~April 10th, 2025:

  • 1st Mondays 6:30pm: Officer meeting – review station, vehicle, equipment & training activities.
  • 2nd Mondays 7pm: vehicle checks; regular FD meeting; review incidents; upcoming trainings, etc.
  • 3rd Mondays 7pm: typically, vehicle driver training, SCBA training as needed.
  • 4th Mondays 7pm: “in-house” trainings, e.g., hoses, pumps, ladders, jaws, medical equipment, etc.
  • Chief attends monthly Hilltown & Hampshire County Fire Chief meetings discussing several topics, e.g., mutual-aid, training, Federal & State grant opportunities, Rapid Intervention Team (RIT), etc.
  • Brush burning season runs 15Jan through 1May, weather conditions permitting & as determined by Mass DEP & local Fire Districts, Fire Wardens, & Fire Chiefs.  Permits can be cancelled due to conditions. Please be aware of wind & humidity conditions, as grasses & nearby woodlands can dry out very quickly.  Rural Fire Departments have very limited people available, especially on weekdays.  Additional requirements for conducting a brush burn are defined at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/open-burning-safety
    • Worthington issued 108 brush burn permits from 15Jan through 31March, and an additional 59 permits so far through April 12th.  The season may likely shut down early.
  • Note:  Goshen had a 4-acre brush fire in late March that required equipment & personnel from several towns, including Worthington, to respond and control/extinguish.  Barn & shed buildings were threatened by the grass/brush fire & protected by the responding departments. 
  • Last year, Great Barrington & October Mountain State Forest area had brush fires that consumed ~1000 acres.

Training:

  • Two new WFRD members (H. Cleveland, E. Graham) have completed 40-hour Hampshire County Basic 6 Firefighter training.
  • (4) Firefighters (R. Labrie, V. Dondiego, K. Porter, M. Dondiego) completed 30-hour recertification training for 1st Responder & CPR, including Epinephrine & Narcan use for medical interventions in Goshen.
  • (5) Firefighters (R. Labrie, H. Cleveland, E. Graham, K. Porter, M. Dondiego) attended 4-hour Life Flight classroom session & helicopter demonstration landing & review @ New Hingham school.
  • (4) Firefighters (R. Labrie, H. Cleveland, E. Graham, J. Clark) completed full 8-hour day of brush fire fighting classroom & practical “in-the-field/hands-on” training with DCR District 10 in Huntington.
  • (5) Firefighters (R. Labrie, H. Cleveland, E. Graham, K. Porter, M. Dondiego) attended Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) 3-hour overview training (for highway & railway incidents) in Cummington.

Community Interactions & Services:

  • Conducted Fire Drill at R.H. Conwell School on 3January2025.
  • Completed (6) Carbon Monoxide (CO) & Smoke Detector inspection for home sales in town.
  • Completed (1) Solar Array &related equipment installation inspection.

Station, Vehicle & Equipment Maintenance, Repairs, & Certifications:

  • Maintenance on & Recertified (10) Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) packs.
  • Station Cascade Breathing Air compressor system serviced & air quality certification.
  • Ladder 10 (L10) aerial certification; requires additional hydraulic & water pipe seal repairs.
  • Repaired/replaced roll-up compartment door on vacuum tanker T1.
  • Contractors completed repairs on station heating system, replacing hot water circulation pump, various valves & fittings.

Grants:

  • Implementing MA 2025 FF Safety grant (1st Round, for $10,468) for 2 sets of Firefighter structural personal protective equipment (PPE) “turn-out” gear (helmets, hoods, gloves, coat, pants, boots).
  • Awarded MA 2025 FF safety grant (2nd Round, for $1991.86) for (1) RIT SCBA pack.
  • Awarded MA Student Safety Awareness of Fire Education (SAFE) program grant ($2300) and Senior SAFE program grant ($1,200).  Student SAFE to include bringing SAFE trailer to R.H. Conwell School and a tour of the Fire Station & equipment.  Senior SAFE grant to include home address #s on posts for seniors in town (and possibly others).
  • Applied for Federal Firefighter grant ($49,436) for new battery powered “Jaws” extrication tools.