Adams Emergency Services Recognized.
ADAMS, Mass. — The Board of Selectmen recognized local emergency service workers for their collaborative efforts in extinguishing the 72 Park St. fire earlier this month.
Chairman Jeffrey Snoonian called representatives from the Fire Department, Police Department and the Ambulance Service to the podium Wednesday during the Selectmen's meeting and awarded them plaques of recognition for extinguishing the structure fire in the three-story building that closed Park Street nearly two weeks ago.
Snoonian said he was impressed by how well all the first-responders from surrounding communities came together to stop the fire from spreading.
"There were eight or nine fire departments here all being run under our Chief [Paul Goyette] with plenty of help from his guys, also our police," he said. "That fire could have easy gotten out of control. The building was saved, the residents got out safe, the pets got out safe ... to see people come together like that was impressive."
Selectman Arthur "Skip" Harrington agreed and said first-responders throughout the county always look out for each other.
"It's like a big family and it shows how well you work together. My hat is off to everybody," Harrington said.
Selectman Joseph Nowak agreed and said he saw the smoke from the Agricultural Fairgrounds and once arriving on the scene, noted how in control the situation was and how well everyone worked together.
"I was very impressed by the coordination among the fire departments. I know we have a volunteer department, which is a godsend to our community as far as economics go, but we have more than just a fire department," Nowak said. "We have a talented group of people that work well together."
Selectman John Duval said he looked at photos of the fire and noticed that many of the firefighters were friends, people he went to school with, and even neighbors. He said the first-responders are the true heroes in the community.
"You guys are the real heroes," Duval said. "In a time in our country when things aren't going that well, you look to heroes locally and to see you guys in action was impressive."
Selectman Richard Blanchard said he was impressed but not surprised because the local emergency services are the best.
"Our emergency services have been doing a phenomenal job for many years," Blanchard said. "We can always count on you folks."
Town Administrator Tony Mazzucco said the knockdown and procedure during the fire was textbook.
"Whenever you go through emergency management exercise you always know things will never go perfectly and it will never be textbook," Mazzucco said. "This was just a textbook operation, and if there is a textbook this would be an example of just how things are supposed to happen."
Fire Chief Paul Goyette thanked the selectmen for the recognition and said countless hours of training and dedication allow the firefighters to work so well together.
"It doesn't just happen," he said. "It is something that we train for and we can handle it and we are ready."
Police Chief Richard Tarsa echoed many of the same sentiments and said the whole force come together to help direct traffic and manage resources to provide aid. He added Berkshire County first responders are some of the best.
"The resources that Berkshire county has on the fire side, police side, and ambulance side is just fantastic," Tarsa said. "Other counties in the commonwealth should take note because we have our act together."
Ambulance General Manager Michael Gleason said there was one minor injury and a firefighter was taken to the hospital for heat exhaustion.
"We are there to make sure no one gets injured," Gleason said. "Fortunately, we only had one and it was minor. Other that, we are support staff to the fire and police ... and I must say it is an absolute joy to work with these guys."
Tags: first responders, recognition event, structure fire,
