Fire Chief Lamey to improve his department
Published on July 1st, 1998
STONEHAM, MA - Since his arrival last December, Stoneham Fire Chief Lawrence Lamey has immersed himself in the job of getting to know his personnel. A veteran of the Norton Fire Department, Lamey has been working steadfastly in enlisting support for programs designed to enhance the Stoneham Fire Department to best serve the community.
Calling his experience to date "extremely enjoyable, with something new every day," Lamey has rolled up his sleeves, dug in his heels and has embarked on the task of maximizing firefighter and community safety.
One of the programs Lamey has proposed concerns fire prevention. Lamey stated that upon review of the department, he recognized a shortfall in the fire prevention area which has led him to submit an organizational change to the Board of Selectmen for the consideration.
Under the new design, Lamey has proposed the establishment of a management position with rank of deputy chief, intended to take over the full-time responsibility of fire prevention.
"It is necessary to have someone here committed to this part of Stoneham fire and rescue," stated Lamey.
Currently, the department consists of five captains and five lieutenants. Within this structure, one captain and one lieutenant are typically assigned to the fire prevention area "out of necessity," and serve until there is an opening in the suppression ranks, usually for just a couple of years at a time.
"Those who do the job now do an admirable job," Lamey stated. "But we've only hit the top of the iceberg" under this scenario, he continued. He asserted that the area needs to be stabilized and kept in line with state regulations, therefore, requiring a long-term commitment.
"There is no monetary incentive to stay in the fire prevention career path," he stated. He hopes to address this issue by creating a management position, a step he considers "positive for the community."
The creation of the deputy chief role in the fire prevention area will concurrently call for eliminating one captain position, according to Lamey.
The proposal is currently being taken under advisement by the Selectmen, and Lamey is hopeful that negotiations will go smoothly.
"I don't think this is a big bump in the road," he stated.
Another of Lamey's chief considerations is his concern for firefighter safety. To this end, he has proposed a number of ideas to maximize protection of the firefighters while performing their jobs.
A recent $20,000 software purchase will allow the department sophisticated tracking of many areas, including EMS and fire calls, firefighter training, and vehicle maintenance schedules.
In addition, the department is working closely with the town's new MIS director, Brian Clapp, on the updating of hardware, Internet access, and E-mail.
Lamey stated that integration with the town's GIS system will enhance his department's response time as well as firefighter safety by providing more information prior to arriving at the scene of an emergency. In addition to obtaining the exact location of the emergency, other information which will eventually be available includes placement of hydrants, location of any hazardous material near the scene and make-up of the population in the area.
"All these innovative, technological advances are great for us," stated Lamey as they will serve the department in "trying to keep the personnel and community safe."
Lamey has been working with the firefighters in formation of a safety committee consisting of members of the department. Monthly meetings of this committee serve to address the prioritization of department needs. The department has been receptive to the safety committee concept, according to Lamey who credits John Scanlon, in particular, for his efforts in this endeavor.
Recently, the safety committee has researched equipment upgrades for the department. One of the upgrades is in the form of improved turn out gear, worn in fighting fires. New criteria for turn out gear has yielded lighter weight material and better flame impingement protection. The committee hopes to eventually standardize all turn out gear in the department by replacing the old every 3 to 4 years, "with the best available," according to Lamey.
Another "very expensive proposition" is a thermal imaging camera that Lamey would like to equip the department with. This camera would allow sight of objects through a smoke-filled atmosphere as well as provide for night vision and sight through wooded areas. Lamey suggested that firefighters need to know they have the best protection available when entering a dangerous situation and has, therefore, expressed his desire for obtaining one of these cameras to the Board of Selectmen.
"It's important to afford the very best equipment we can for the firefighters to do their job safely," stated Lamey.
With $44,000 appropriated to the department by Town Meeting, Lamey reported that new self contained breathing apparatuses will allow a firefighter to have a good and reliable source of air.
An ongoing training budget for the fire department is also in the works, aimed at continuing education of firefighters in the areas of fire prevention, suppression, arson and hazardous materials.
In addition, Lamey is hopeful to receive a SAFE (student awareness of fire education) grant, which is modeled after the police department's DARE program. While the fire department regularly visits elementary schools to teach about fire prevention, Lamey stated that the SAFE grant would enable them to reach more kids by including kindergarten and middle school age children.
He hopes to include the elderly population in the SAFE program as well, stating that children and the elderly are the two areas "in any community that is hardest hit when fire occurs."
The department missed out on the grant last year and Lamey stated that he wants to "re-establish it as a priority."
Despite the prime location of the town's fire station, which Lamey stated, yields "very good response to the vast majority of the community," he indicated that the building has shortcomings even with recent renovations to the structure.
Lamey contends that the building, built in the early 1900s, "falls short of what our needs are now and in the future."
In addition to the need to better accommodate the size of modern fire engines, which "can barely squeeze in," Lamey said that a state-of-the-art facility would address living accommodations and provide much needed space for training, classrooms and a fitness area, important for any fire department. These improvements, he suggested would "benefit the long term."
The Stoneham Fire Department has the benefit of a skilled diving team, according to Lamey, but has no place to house the equipment and vehicle for the team. This area will become increasingly important as Lamey projects the additional service his department will likely provide once development of Spot Pond is completed.
"Many people feel this is an historic building and should stay in the community, but it has shortfalls in terms of a modern fire facility," Lamey stated.
As the Emergency Management Director for the town as well, Lamey is also looking forward to establishing an area that will allow coordination of equipment and personnel for response in instances of disaster.
His office will now serve as that emergency operation center as phone lines, computers, scanners and a television are slowly being added.
Lamey and his family are currently house hunting in Stoneham. Despite the roots he has in Norton, he stated that he looks forward to the move, and to a drastic reduction in his commute. The move comes at a good time for his family, as his daughter looks forward to college in September and his son will begin his high school years.
"I look forward to the change," Lamey stated.
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