Groveland Fire Department Debuts Website Redesign

pentucketporta on July 15, 2022

GROVELAND 一 Chief Robert Valentine is excited to announce the redesign of the Groveland Fire Department’s website.

The website, grovelandfd.com, has a modern look and a user-friendly design, which includes information about the department’s history, a news blog, and access to fire safety and prevention resources.

The site also features information about the department’s emergency medical training services, as well as fire education and CPR training courses.

Along with these features, the site allows residents to easily access open burn permits, child safety seat installation requests and fire inspection applications.

Additionally, members of the community who are interested in joining the Groveland Fire Department can find an application form on the site.

The website is connected to Groveland Fire’s social media platforms to keep residents up to date on the latest department news. Residents also are encouraged to subscribe to the site to receive email alerts and community updates.

The website was designed by John Guilfoil Public Relations.

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Groveland, Merrimac & West Newbury Police and Fire Departments Partner with Pentucket to Share Safe Driving Tips for Teens

pentucketporta on July 7, 2021

 

With school out and the summer season in full swing, Groveland Fire Chief Robert Valentine, Groveland Police Chief Jeffrey Gillen, Merrimac Fire Chief Larry Fisher, Merrimac Police Chief Eric Shears, West Newbury Fire Chief Michael Dwyer, Police Chief Jeffrey Durand and Pentucket Superintendent Dr. Justin Bartholomew wish to share safe driving tips with teens.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for teens age 15 to 18 in the United States.

In 2018, there were 2,121 people killed in crashes involving a teen driver, of which 719 deaths were the teen driver. During that time, there were an estimated 88,000 teen drivers injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes, and an estimated 256,000 people injured in crashes involving a teen driver, accounting for almost 10% of all those injured that year.

“Teen drivers are still learning the ways of the road, and it is crucial for them to be cautious and to take the proper steps to ensure safety on the road,” said Superintendent Bartholomew. “Parents, please talk to your young drivers about the following safety tips. Something as simple as buckling up could save a life.”

The public safety departments that comprise the Pentucket district recommend that parents discuss the following safety tips from safekids.org with their teen driver to help keep them safe:

  • Buckle up for every trip, every time, no matter what. This applies for anyone traveling in the front or back seat. More than half of teens killed in crashes were not wearing a seatbelt.
  • Texting or using a phone while driving can cause teens to become distracted and is prohibited in Massachusetts. On average, texting while driving takes a driver’s eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that is equivalent to driving the length of a football field blindfolded.
  • Limit the number of passengers in the vehicle to help prevent young drivers from becoming distracted. The risk of a fatal crash can double, or even triple when two or more teens ride in a vehicle together.
  • Driving under the influence of any impairing substance — including alcohol, illicit or prescription drugs, or over-the-counter medication — could have deadly consequences.
  • Teens should only drive when it is dark after extra practice. At night, the risk of a fatal crash is three times more likely for teens than adults.
  • Always drive within the speed limit. Road conditions can change in an instant and speed limits help to ensure that drivers have enough time to react.
  • If a driver is driving dangerously, speak up.

For more information on safe driving information for teens, please click here.

Groveland Firefighters Deliver Turkeys to Residents in Lieu of Annual Turkey Night

pentucketporta on November 23, 2020

GROVELAND — Chief Robert Valentine and Groveland Firefighters Association President Dave Evans are pleased to announce that members of the Groveland Fire Department delivered turkeys to dozens of residents in a modified version of its annual Turkey Night.

Traditionally, the Groveland Firefighters Association raffles off 40 turkeys at its annual Turkey Night the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Though the event had to be cancelled this year due to safety concerns amid COVID-19, members of the department instead delivered 40 turkeys to families that have historically supported the event.

Groveland Firefighters delivered the turkeys from a fire engine on Saturday morning, Nov. 21. Rather than the typical raffle, the turkeys this year were donated by Fadi Issa of Groveland Auto Repair and Sales. 

“While we weren’t able to host our traditional event, we still wanted to be able to provide families who have been long time supporters of the Turkey Night and the department with a turkey this Thanksgiving,” Chief Valentine said. “I am grateful to Fadi for his generous donation, which directly benefits our residents.”

The turkey delivery is one of two holiday events the Groveland Fire Department will be hosting, as it will once again host its Santa Tour on Saturday, Dec. 6, led by Lt. Joe Santapaola.

 

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West Newbury & Groveland Fire Respond to Pentucket Regional High School as Precaution Following Science Demonstration 

pentucketporta on October 16, 2020

WEST NEWBURY — West Newbury Fire Chief Michael Dwyer and Groveland Fire Chief Robert Valentine report that their respective fire departments responded to Pentucket Regional High School as a precaution after a science experiment did not perform exactly as expected.

At 8:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 16, the two departments were dispatched to the high school, located at 24 Main St. in West Newbury, for an alarm activation. Upon arrival, firefighters were notified that a routine science experiment went wrong when a water vapor cloud caused by the experiment was sucked out the window of one classroom and into a nearby one.

Out of an abundance of caution, the building was evacuated. Firefighters working with a HazMat team member from the Amesbury Fire Department, determined that there was no danger as the cloud consisted only of water vapor.

The experiment involved sodium and water and is a routine part of the science curriculum. Fire crews cleared the area by 9:44 a.m., and classes resumed.

The Groveland Fire Department automatically responds as a mutual aid partner when alarms are activated at the high school. Groveland firefighters provided station coverage in West Newbury in addition to providing support on-scene. Atlantic Ambulance also responded to the high school and evaluated students and staff in the two classrooms as a precautionary measure.

 

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*Updated* Groveland Fire Department to Hire First Full-Time Members Following FEMA Grant Award

pentucketporta on September 2, 2020

GROVELAND — Chief Robert Valentine is pleased to announce that the Groveland Fire Department was awarded a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant to hire two full-time firefighters, who will be the first full-time members in the department’s history.

Groveland Fire, which has historically been a call department, received a FEMA Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant in the amount of $464,490 to cover the salaries and benefits of two new full-time firefighters.

The grant will be used to fund the costs related to filling two full time positions for three years.

The FEMA SAFER grant was developed to provide funding to local and volunteer fire departments to  increase or maintain their firefighter staffing levels. SAFER grants supplement fire departments’ budgets in order to help them comply with staffing requirements set by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

“We are extremely grateful to FEMA for awarding us this grant and helping our department make this tremendous step forward. I would like to thank the Board of Selectmen for their support on this project, as well as State Senator Bruce Tarr, State Rep. Lenny Mirra, and Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey for all their support in helping us receive this grant,” Fire Chief Robert Valentine said. “As the town grows, the need for first responders increases, and this grant will help ensure our department is adequately staffed to keep our community safe ”

 

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Groveland Fire Department Congratulates Graduates From Call/Volunteer Firefighter Training 

pentucketporta on March 6, 2019

Firefighter Michael Neenan, left, stands with Interim Fire Chief Richard York after completing the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s Local Call/Volunteer Firefighter Recruit Training Program in February. (Courtesy Photo Groveland Fire Department)

GROVELAND — Interim Fire Chief Richard York is pleased to announce that Michael Neenan graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy last week.

Firefighter Neenan graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s Call/Volunteer Recruit Firefighting Training program Class 74. He was recognized along with 23 other graduates during a ceremony on Thursday, Feb. 28 at Masconomet Regional Middle School in Boxford.

Firefighter Neenan was born in West Newbury and moved to Groveland in 2002. He joined the Groveland Fire Department in July 2018 and will begin working towards his EMT certification this May.

“On behalf of the entire department, I congratulate Firefighter Neenan for completing this challenging program,” Interim Chief York said. “The skills learned at the academy will be invaluable in serving and protecting the residents of Groveland.”

During the training, firefighters learned the basic skills they need to respond to fires, including how to contain and control them, public fire education, hazardous material incident mitigation, flammable liquids, stress management, firefighter self-rescue and vehicle extrication.

To graduate, firefighters were required to complete 240 hours of training, all on nights and weekends, while demonstrating proficiency in life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation and fire attack in situations ranging from mailbox fires to multiple-floor or multi-room structural fires.

The other 23 graduates represent the fire departments of Boxford, Essex, Georgetown, Ipswich, Lynnfield, Rockport, Sherborn, Tyngsborough, Wenham, West Newbury and Weston.

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