⠀
Fire Chief Thomas J. Barry Jr. has officially asked state Rep. Gregory Sullivan, D-Norwood, to file special legislation allowing the Norwood Fire Department to create a call force of twelve to fifteen firefighters, marking the town’s first call force since 1957. Fire Chief Thomas J. Barry Jr. expects some legislative action on the measure within a few months, though he noted, knowing the Legislature, it’s hard to say when.
Fire Chief Thomas J. Barry Jr. requested the legislative measure because call force firefighters would not be subject to civil service examinations or ratings in the same manner as permanent, full-time firefighters. Arguing that the establishment of a dedicated call force would effectively solve ongoing challenges in enlisting off-duty firefighters to cover emergency shifts and major incidents, Fire Chief Thomas J. Barry Jr. previously won broad approval for the proposal at a town meeting in June. Although the exact number of call firefighters hired will ultimately depend on available municipal funding, Thomas J. Barry Jr. stated he hopes to maintain a steady force of twelve to fifteen personnel.
The new call force positions will be open to any qualified applicant, male or female, and candidates will be carefully chosen on the basis of personal interviews, physical ability assessments, and schedule availability. Call force personnel would be thoroughly trained to assist during emergency duties, Thomas J. Barry Jr. explained, and would complete a rigorous basic training course administered by the department. A traditional call force was originally discontinued twenty-four years ago due to a dwindling availability of men and a broader regional trend toward fully professionalized, full-time municipal fire departments. With this new legislative push, town safety officials hoped to bolster emergency response capabilities across Norwood.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
More Norwood Fire Stories
-
Three Hurt After Falling Off Ladder at Norwood Apartment Complex-July 16, 2021
A construction accident at the Windsor Gardens apartment complex in Norwood, Massachusetts, left three people seriously injured on July 16, 2021. The incident highlights the importance of workplace safety and the need for proper training and equipment in construction sites.
-
Army Reservist Dennis Mawn Returns to Norwood Fire Department After a Year in Iraq-February 13, 2012
Norwood firefighter Dennis Mawn, returned in December after serving on a second tour of duty in Iraq. Dennis Mawn returned to work at the Norwood Fire Department with two tours of duty under his belt and a new honor: the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. Army Master Sgt. Mawn, 43, served with Joint Forces Special Operations…
-
Selectmen Approve Three New Firefighters and Overtime Increase-August 11, 1993
Following sweeping early retirements across town departments, Fire Chief William Sullivan received unanimous approval from selectmen to hire three new firefighters and increase the department’s overtime account.
-
Live Shotgun Shells Scattered Across Norwood Play Areas-August 12, 1986
Fire Captain Robert Malloy issued a safety warning after 150 live 1942 military surplus shotgun shells were scattered by teenagers across Norwood playgrounds and cemeteries.
-
Norwood Selectmen Demand Immediate Action on Faulty Fire Hydrants-August 21, 1985
Norwood selectmen demand immediate action on faulty hydrants following a Walnut Avenue fire where firefighters were hampered by three broken plugs.
-
Fire closes Norwood Star Market-May 28, 1985
The Star Market on Nahatan Street was closed this morning because of possible food contamination caused by smoke from an early morning fire in a storeroom. Town Health Inspector Phyllis Boucher ordered the store closed and called in a state health inspector to survey the damage to food supplies. “I can’t say how long the…
-
Fire Chief Reports Worn Equipment As Maintenance Dispute Simmers-September 5, 1979
Fire Chief Thomas J. Barry Jr. delivered a frank status report to selectmen on the condition of the town’s firefighting fleet, describing the eight department vehicles—averaging 14 years in age—as heavily worn and difficult to maintain following the recent resignation of the department’s sole in-house mechanic. Chief Barry addressed recent concerns after two frontline trucks…
-
Norwood Selectmen Uphold Fire Department Staffing Levels Amid Labor Disputes-July 12, 1978
Fire Department Manning Shifts and Physical Exam Standoff On July 12, 1978, the Norwood Board of Selectmen stepped directly into a complex municipal and labor dispute, voting 3–1 to reaffirm a long-established minimum manning policy of 13-man shifts within the Norwood Fire Department. The decision effectively determined that any budgetary economies or cost-cutting measures targeted…
-
Fire Department Labor Dispute and Election Litigation-July 5, 1978
The summer of 1978 brought unrest to Norwood, characterized by a firefighter strike against mandatory health programs and a tense court challenge over local election results.
-
Fire Contract Talks Stall; Mediator to Step In-May 27, 1978
History repeats itself at the negotiating table. Contract talks between town officials and the Norwood Firefighters Association officially ground to a halt in May 1978, reviving a familiar public-safety deadlock. Take a look back at the quiet high-stakes standoff that sent both sides back to a state mediator.
Discover more from Norwood Historical Society
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.