Haverhill Firefighters Local 1011
Help keep our hometown safe, support your local firefighters
The Haverhill Fire Department acted decisively in response to a structure fire at 39 School St, at 7:55 PM on May 7, 2024. Before swiftly containing the blaze within thirty minutes. Upon receiving a telephone alarm, Deputy Chief Roberts, along with fire apparatus, arrived promptly at the scene to find smoke and fire on the […]
Haverhill Fire Department Responded Swiftly to School St For A Fire, Rescues Pet, and Prevents Further Losses
Congresswomen Lori Trahan presented the Haverhill Fire Department with the ceremonial check for 16 new full-time firefighters on the department for the next 3 years, 100% of personnel costs covered by the S.A.F.E.R. FEMA Grant, worth over $4.1 million. There were many thanks made during the event while standing in front of the Bradford Fire Station where the Bradford Ladder 4 crew will be staffed as of June next year. Joining with us to celebrate was Congresswoman Trahan, State Senator Payano, State Representative Vargas, State Representative Hamilton, City Councilor and Mayor Elect Melinda Barrett, City Council President Jordan, City Councilor Lewandowski, & City Councilor Bevilacqua.
We’d like to once again thank the members of the Haverhill Firefighters Local 1011 in-house firefighter grant writers who wrote this grant for the city: Grant Team Leader Richard Shellene, Brian Ray, James Bizeur, Ryan Fairbanks, & Timothy Carroll. As well as the advocacy we gratefully received from US Senator Warren, US Senator Markey, alongside Congresswoman Trahan.
Special thank you to the work done by Chief Robert O’Brien, Local President Tim Carroll, & Local Secretary Ryan Fairbanks for their efforts towards procuring this grant by their years of work before, during, and after this grant was awarded to Haverhill. Work that was shared by our strongest supporters in the Haverhill City Council: Tim Jordan, Melissa Lewandowski, John Michitson, Colin LePage, & Melinda Barrett.
There is a lot of work still being done to prepare for these new firefighters to join the department early next year. We hope to update you more as the process continues. Please see the pictures below provided by Mike Jarvis from Jarvi Productions.
The Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts (PFFM) have unanimously endorsed Melinda Barrett for Mayor of Haverhill.
On September 22, 2023, your firefighters of Massachusetts assembled for their monthly meeting when firefighter union leaders from across the state conducted regular business. During that time, Haverhill Firefighters IAFF Local 1011 President & PFFM District 4 Vice President Tim Carroll stood for an endorsement request for Melinda Barrett and her run for Mayor of Haverhill.
The members of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts in attendance, with a unanimous vote, proudly chose to endorse Melinda Barrett for Mayor of Haverhill.
Subject: F.E.M.A. Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant
The Haverhill Firefighters of the IAFF Local 1011 would like to thank Fire Chief Robert O’Brien, our U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives, our State Senators and State Representatives, our Haverhill City Councilors, the International Association of Fire Fighters, and the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts. Along with a special thanks to our amateur fire department grant writers James Bizeur, Brian Ray, Ryan Fairbanks, Michael Foustoukos, and Timothy Carroll, led by Richard Shellene.
Five years ago, the IAFF Local 1011 stood in front of the Haverhill City Council and presented them with a plan to incrementally increase staffing levels to eventually provide the residents of Haverhill with a desperately needed second ladder truck staffed in Bradford. Proving a need for a second ladder truck on the basis of our call volume, the abundance of current high-rise buildings, and the more approved to be built in the city, Haverhill was far below the national staffing standard.
After researching and writing the grant, our local firefighter grant team, with an endorsement from Haverhill’s mayor, submitted an application for funding a fully-staffed ladder truck in March 2023. Our grant application, with the backing of our elected leaders, requested 16 firefighters to staff a second ladder in order to help Haverhill meet the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1710 standard in continuation with previous staffing increases at both High Street and Water Street. Combined with previous staffing increases, this grant will soon allow Haverhill to meet the 80% threshold set forth by the NFPA for responses and response times sometime next year. The FEMA SAFER Grant gives the City of Haverhill $4.1 million to be spent over three years, covering 100% of the salaries and benefits of 16 firefighters. Upon the expiration of the grant, we look forward to working with local leaders to continue to staff the much-needed ladder truck in Bradford. At an approximate cost of $1.4–$1.6 million annually for these firefighters moving forward in the 4th year, FY2028 will be the first full fiscal year the city will need to realize the cost of these critical firefighters at about 0.6% of the current total annual city budget.
We look forward to continuing our work with the Haverhill City Council, the Federal and State Legislature, and Haverhill’s next mayor to continue to find solutions for these fiscal hurdles, including additional grants. Haverhill Firefighters IAFF Local 1011 have and will always fight for the safety of the residents in our great city. We know that many of the past years haven’t been easy, but we believe the best is yet to come for Haverhill, its firefighters, and the residents we are here to protect.
Faithfully,
Your Haverhill Firefighters
Your Haverhill Firefighters Local 1011 would like to take this opportunity to introduce two of its members currently participating in the selection process for Haverhill’s new fire chief.
We present to you two longtime Haverhill Firefighters who we feel make excellent candidates for Haverhill Fire Chief.
As a member of the Haverhill Fire Department since 1998, Deputy Chief Raymond Robinson has proven himself to be a dedicated and professional Officer. Rising through the ranks he has consistently shown that he is an inclusive and cooperative leader that generates equitable and effective solutions…
Bob and his wife Joanne chose Haverhill as their community to purchase a home and raise their family in 1987. In 1994 Bob joined the Haverhill Fire Department after spending many years managing his family-operated ambulance service. Working his first six years as a firefighter, he rose to the rank of lieutenant in 2001…