The #MashpeeMA Fire Department yesterday battled a fire in a mobile home where the occupant tragically suffered fatal injuries. This was the fifth Massachusetts fire death since 10/1/25 where no working smoke alarms were found. Read more: www.mass.gov/news/fatal-f...

#TechRescue Tuesday: The Mass Fire Academy recently delivered the Confined Space Rescue Technician course at our Bridgewater campus. For five days, firefighters from across the state progressed from definitions & identification to planning and executing technician-level rescues.

#CrashResponderSafetyWeek runs from Nov. 17-21, 2025. This year's theme is "Safety starts with you!" When you see flashing lights on the roadway, slow down, move over, and give fire/rescue, EMS, police, towing/recovery, and maintenance personnel room to work: ow.ly/QUc650XqCok

DFS #Hazmat techs, Special Operations staff, and State Police assigned to the State Fire Marshal's office supported #LudlowMA FD when old and degraded reactive chemicals were reported in a home. Read more about the comprehensive, multidisciplinary response: www.mass.gov/news/dfs-haz...

#ICYMI: #HalifaxMA FD battled a fire that claimed a resident's life early Monday. Investigators found no #SmokeAlarms in the home. Please take a few mins to check in with older friends/relatives to see if they need a hand installing or testing alarms: www.mass.gov/news/fatal-f...

Break on through to the other side! Mass Fire Academy recruits learn a variety of forcible entry methods so they can search for trapped occupants and attack an interior fire. These recruits are training with the irons -- a Halligan & an axe -- on one of our door simulator props.

The DFS Special Operations team delivered our new Incident Support Trailer to assist Massport Fire Rescue at a drill at Hanscom Field. The IST provides full conferencing, communications, & mapping capabilities in a trailer-based version of our full-sized Incident Support Units.

#TechRescue Tuesday: The Mass Fire Academy recently delivered its Rope Rescue: Operational Level course at #WestminsterMA FD. Firefighters from across the state developed a strong foundation for performing rescue ops in low- and high-angle environments, lowering and hauling systems, and more.

It's not too late! If you didn't change the batteries in your #SmokeAlarms and #CarbonMonoxide alarms yesterday, you can do it today. While you're at it, check the manufacturing date on the back. Replace smoke alarms after 10 years and CO alarms after 5, 7, or 10 years depending on the model.

DFS #Hazmat techs and Special Operations staff recently supported #SandwichMA FD at the scene of a possible chemical hazard. From specialized training, tools, and meters to hot coffee and dry socks, DFS resources are always available to support our local partners.

DFS #Hazmat techs recently took part in an exercise to simulate the Massachusetts response to an emergency at Seabrook nuclear power plant. With MEMA, the Red Cross, and other partners, they drilled on Reception Center operations that would assist first responders and the public.

The chill is setting in! If you're using a space heater, please do it safely -- always plug it directly into a wall outlet, not an extension cord or power strip, and keep it at least three feet from curtains, bedding, or anything else that might burn: ow.ly/bynq50XisZT

#DaylightSavingTime ends next week! When you #FallBack this year, check your alarms when you change your clocks. The manufacturing date is printed on the back. Replace alarms that are out of date and replace alkaline batteries in alarms that use them: ow.ly/K8QQ50TR42s

A little rain didn't deter the Massachusetts Telecommunicator Emergency Response Task Force from visiting DFS for a tour, an overview of our Special Operations capabilities, and their regular meeting. Want to learn more about TERT? Visit www.mass.gov/tert-telecom...!

#TechRescue Tuesday: The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy's Technical Rescue Group recently delivered its Trench Rescue Technician course at #AndoverMA Fire Rescue. About 20 firefighters from across the state trained for these high-risk rescue scenarios. Great work by students & instructors!

Happy #Diwali to all our friends who celebrate! If you plan to use candles or diyas to observe the holiday, please do it safely. Keep anything that can burn at least one foot away. And always extinguish them before you leave the room or go to sleep! Learn more about candle safety: ow.ly/WU3950Q5CbN

State Fire Marshal Davine joined Chief Breen, Mayor Ballantyne, and the @cityofsomerville.bsky.social Fire Department this weekend for the opening of their new firehouse in Assembly Square. This modern station will help firefighters protect the city while protecting their occupational health.

Have you seen the latest edition of the All Hands Herald? Our magazine for the Massachusetts fire service has features on the tragic Gabriel House fire, 25 years of Special Operations, Fire Academy history, and more! Visit www.mass.gov/doc/septembe....

The DFS Joint Hazard Incident Response Team, Special Operations staff, and State Police Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit recently assisted #WarehamMA FD as they investigated an explosion in a home. These teams regularly train together to ensure cohesion at complex responses like this one.

#TechRescue Tuesday: 20+ firefighters from across the state took part in the Mass Fire Academy's 7th Structural Collapse Recue Technician Course, held at our Bridgewater campus. Great work by all our students! Thank you to our instructors and support staff for making it possible!

The smoke alarm in State Fire Marshal Davine's hand was recovered at the scene of a fire where two adults and three children perished. It had no batteries. Please be sure you have working smoke alarms on every level of your home. Choose alarms w/ sealed, 10-year batteries so they can't be disabled.

Yesterday, the Westborough Fire Department hosted State Fire Marshal Davine and fire chiefs from across Massachusetts for a press conference reminding residents to replace smoke alarms after 10 years. Read more and watch the event: ow.ly/faUy50X82yr

#TechRescue Tuesday: The Mass Fire Academy recently delivered its Trench Rescue Technician course at the #BurlingtonMA Fire Department. FFs from as far west as Springfield engaged in classroom instruction and practical exercises to prepare for these dangerous and challenging scenarios.

#OTD in 1971, the Legislature approved Ch. 842 of the Acts of 1971, establishing the Fire Training Council and, in what was then the Division of Occupational Education, "a training school for firefighters to be known as the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy." We've grown a lot since then!

Thank you to @massgovernor.bsky.social for proclaiming Oct. 5-11 as #FirePreventionWeek in Massachusetts! This year's theme is "Charge into Fire Safety: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home." Choose, use, & recycle these batteries safely: www.mass.gov/info-details...

The Mass Fire Academy recently delivered its #Flashover Simulator prop to #EasthamptonMA FD. Firefighters received classroom instruction on the characteristics of flashover -- when all combustible materials in a room ignite simultaneously -- followed by live fire evolutions.

October is #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth. A recent survey showed that breast cancer accounted for more than 25% of cancer diagnoses among women firefighters. DFS offers free mammograms and other cancer screenings for eligible firefighters: learn more at https://ow.ly/C8Is50To5MQ

On this date in 1964, Boston Fire Lt. John McCorkle, Lt. John Geswell, FF Robert Clougherty, FF Francis Murphy, & FF James Sheedy made the ultimate sacrifice at a five-alarm fire on Trumbull St. Read more: https://www.firehero.org/2021/10/25/memorial-monday-boston-toy-factory-fire/

#TechRescue Tuesday: The Mass Fire Academy's Technical Rescue Program recently delivered a Water Rescue course for members of the Southeastern Mass Technical Rescue Team. Firefighters practiced shore-based & in-water rescues. Great work by our students! Thank you to our instructors & support staff!

Greetings from Rehab 7 on #NationalCoffeeDay!

Thank you Governor Maura Healey, EOPSS, Chief Purcell from #WestboroughMA FD & FCAM, and all who attended today's ceremony opening the new burn building. Not quite the weather we were hoping for, but the Crib team came through with a great demo! More: https://ow.ly/BNh850X2sUn

Members of the DFS Joint Hazard Incident Response Team recently trained with State Police Bomb Squad personnel on the PAN Disruptor, a tool used to render potential explosive hazards safe. JHIRT & Bomb techs train together because they work together to protect first responders and the public.

#TechRescue Tuesday: DFS supported the Massachusetts Association of Technical Rescue Specialists at last week's training exercise and demonstration. Staff piloted drones like this one, which can be used to assist rescuers in confined spaces, structural collapse scenes, indoor Hazmat calls, and more.

Sept. 22-28, 2025, is the International Week of #Deaf People. Did you know that specialized #SmokeAlarms are available with flashing lights and vibrations? If you or a loved one are Deaf or hard of hearing, please be sure you're protected by smoke alarms that account for your needs.

The recent warm, dry, breezy weather has been great for outdoor activity, but it also means outdoor fires will start and spread easily. As we head into the weekend, remember that open burning is currently prohibited and be extra careful with anything involving sparks, embers, or other heat sources.

Our 30th Annual Fire & Life Safety Education Conference got off to a great start today! Thanks to the DFS staff and Task Force members, and to all our attendees, workshop presenters, and special guests like CT Fire Marshal Lauri Volkert. Back tomorrow for Day Two!

Burn days at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy are a chance for recruits to put their training to the test. Many of the skills they’ve practiced for weeks come into play, including establishing water supply, forcible entry, deploying ladders, hose handling, and – of course – fire suppression.

With below-average rainfall over the past three months, most of Massachusetts is in Level 2 - Significant Drought status. Outdoor fires will start and spread more easily. Let's work together to prevent a recurrence of last year's unprecedented fall fire season. Learn more: ow.ly/gJlk50WW9WZ

The DFS Special Operations team can deliver drones anywhere in Massachusetts at any time of day or night to stream HD and/or thermal footage directly to incident commanders. The feed can be viewed at a command post or in a DFS Incident Support Unit: ow.ly/5l3950WMJ78

DFS Special Operations staff delivered Rehab 6 to support the #MiddleboroughMA Fire Department and mutual aid at last week's tragic two-alarm fire. These and other Special Ops resources are always available to assist our local partners: ow.ly/W7lA50WQiCw

#TechRescue Tuesday: The Mass Fire Academy's Technical Rescue Program recently delivered its Rope Operations course for the Southeastern MA Technical Rescue Team. It was held at our Bridgewater campus, the focal point for the MFA's tech rescue training. Big thanks to our instructors & support staff!

Captain's Log, #Stardate 12509.08: Today is #StarTrekDay! If you want to live long and prosper, remember that #HomeFireSprinklers combined with working #SmokeAlarms reduce the risk of dying in a fire by 82%. Building or buying a home? Sprinklers are the logical choice!

Join us at Hopkinton Family Day for a side-by-side #HomeFireSprinkler demonstration! We're joining the Hopkinton Fire Department on September 13 to show the power of the #FastestWater to protect people, pets, property -- and the environment! See you next week!

That's not smog at the DFS Bridgewater campus -- it's smoke from the first "seasoning" fires in the new burn building. If you must escape conditions like these in a fire at home, remember to "Get Low and Go." Stay close to the floor, where the air is cleaner and cooler, and get out right away.

Be honest, if you had your own streetsweeper you'd cruise the block, too. #ShutdownWeek

Local & state investigators believe Monday morning's fatal fire was accidental and most likely started with smoking materials. They found no working #SmokeAlarms at the scene. Please be sure you and your loved ones are protected by working smoke alarms on every level of your home: ow.ly/3MWR50WPL6E

Nearly 50% of residential fires take place in apartment buildings and other multi-family homes. If you, a friend, or a family member just moved into a new apartment, look for two ways out of the unit and the building -- and each room, if possible. Plan your escape route before you need to use it!

DFS #Hazmat technicians recently supported Duxbury FD with a broken #Mercury barometer. Mercury is toxic! If you have a mercury spill at home, call 9-1-1 right away, open the windows for ventilation. Better yet, safely dispose of mercury products before they become a hazard: ow.ly/t8Fo50KVJkt

DFS Special Operations staff recently delivered Rehab 7 and a #Drone unit to support @rutlandmafire at a 4th alarm structure fire. Effective rehab promotes firefighter health and safety, while drones can provide real-time HD and thermal aerial imagery to assist incident commanders.