Stoneham firefighters join New York recovery effort
Published on September 26th, 2001
NEW YORK, NY - Stoneham firefighters joined the all-American search effort in New York City last Wednesday.
Firefighters Bill Dockery and Scott Greenleaf left for New York City on Sept. 19, and returned this week. Stoneham Ford donated a van to get them there. Fire Captain Joe Rolli and Lt. Jim Marshall left on Sept. 24 with complementary Amtrak tickets.
The men are serving as part of a critical incident stress management team at “ground zero,” as the TV reporters say.
“After the firefighters leave the site, they get their vitals checked and any medical attention, but then they come through our tent,” Rolli said.
All four firefighters received certification for critical incident stress management as part of their continuing education as Emergency Medical Technicians. Stoneham firefighters are trained as EMTs — not because they have to be but because they want to, Rolli said.
“Everyone at the Department wants to go to New York, but they need specific personnel,” Rolli said.
Rolli and his men got the call from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Authority after that organization was contacted by New York State officials.
Marshall, Dockery and Greenleaf have worked this duty before at the Worcester Cold Storage fire in 1999. Rolli has since taken the stress management course. Working the World Trade Center wreckage in New York will be Rolli’s first time counseling his brother firefighters.
“I’m a little intimidated,” Rolli said. “I’ve seen nothing like this before.”
Each Stoneham firefighter will miss only one or two shifts, which overtime will cover. The town will pay the men for their time in New York, and Stoneham may be reimbursed as was the case after Stoneham firefighters covered Worcester calls while that department mourned the loss of its men in 1999.
Stoneham Fire’s role in this American trauma is emblematic of the cooperative spirit of this country’s imminent recovery.
Subscribe and get Home Delivery of The Independent
Save 36% off the newstand price — that's like 18 FREE issues!