Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Swiniarski is a member of the North Andover Fire Department.
Scott Swiniarski didn't always plan to be a North Andover firefighter, but he's glad he is one. Even in -- and perhaps especially in -- situations like a recent one in which he helped battle a massive fire in Lawrence. His career path started with a big switch. Swiniarski's wife Tracy is a teacher in Methuen. When they dated, Swiniarski was in college studying to be an accountant. "But I figured sitting around working with numbers wasn't really for me," he said. So in his senior year he decided he wanted to be a firefighter. The night he discussed this with his then-girlfriend Tracy, her apartment building in Worcester caught fire. So that settled that. Now 13 years later, Swiniarski is settled in a career helping to protect his home town…
42.70278
-71.1308
Town of North Andover Fire Department
124 Main St, North Andover, MA
/articles/scott-swiniarski-from-numbers-to-boots
778270
/locations/7647590
Friday, August 17, 2012
This firefighter has a passion for helping.
Blake Zwinggi may seem laid back, but he has a very intense job. He's a North Andover Firefighter. Zwinggi has been a member for the Fire Department for seven years. "I like to help people," he said. His wife Keri is also in the business of helping the community. She's a teacher at North Andover High School. Helping people under stressful conditions is easier when you're in good company. The other firefighters seem to tease him relentlessly but it's all in good fun. "We have a good group of guys," he said. "We have a good camradery. It's also good to be with the community." Zwinggi's most memorable moment on the Fire Department? "I would say performing CPR on someone," he said. "A guy at The Willows was playing racketball and had a heart …
42.70278
-71.1308
Town of North Andover Fire Department
124 Main St, North Andover, MA
/articles/protecting-your-town-blake-zwinggi
778270
/locations/7627945
Thursday, August 9, 2012
They even include a tailgating package.
It may be summer, but if you're a Patriots fan it's not too early to be preparing for football. The North Andover Firefighters Relief Association has you covered. They are raffling off two Patriots tickets to each of the eight regular season home games. The prizes come with a tailgate package that includes: Raffle tickets are $100 each and can be purchased at either fire station in town. Make checks payable to North Andover Firefighters Relief Association. Act quickly. Only 300 raffle tickets will be sold. Drawing will be Sept. 5.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Hebert has been a North Andover firefighter since 2001.
North Andover Firefighter Dave Hebert loves sports. And believe it or not, that's relevant to his love for firefighting. "I like hanging ouyt with the guys," Hebert said. "I've always been into sports, and it's kind of the same deal here. Everyone works for the same goal. It's kind of like football, you do what you have to do as part of a team." Hebert joined the department in 2001. With his uncle a lieutenant in the Lowell Fire Department and his father a police officer in Lowell, he grew up with public safety in his blood. He's seen a lot of dramatic emergencies over the years. Like many firefighters, he likes to focus on the stories with good endings. A few years ago, Hebert and a crew he was with rushed to Stevens Pond, where a canoe …
Friday, July 20, 2012
The new hire on the Fire Department has a family legacy to fill.
When Chris Long was hired to serve on the North Andover Fire Department a couple months ago, he was stepping into a family tradition. His father Steve Long retired from the department six years ago. His uncle Kenny, who passed away in 1997, also served in the department, and his other uncle, Lt. Mike Long, still serves in the department. Long, 34, has lived in North Andover his whole live and worked for the Division of Public Works for eight years. "I've always wanted to become a firefighter," Long said. He would have joined a lot sooner, but the wait was long and he wasn't offered any shortcuts for family connections. The wait was well worth it, though. "I love the excitement of the job," Long said. "I work with a lot of great guys who …
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
He faced the unimaginable in New York City in 2001 and has spent his time saving lives since.
North Andover Firefighter Steve Sentementes had a busy day recently. He was called out on medical call after medical call and then rushed to the scene of a car fire, and that was way before his shift was over. But, it's all part of the job he loves. "I love helping people in need," Sentementes said. "And I like working with the guys in this department." Sentementes lived in North Andover for a little more than five years before recently moving to Tewksbury after getting married. One memorable incident for Sentementes involved saving a man's life. A man in his 60s had gone into cardiac arrest. Sentementes and his fellow firefighters worked on the man and got his heartbeat back. That heroic action earned Sentementes, Ryan Nicolosi, Dan Ryan …
42.70278
-71.1308
Town of North Andover Fire Department
124 Main St, North Andover, MA
/articles/featured-firefighter-steve-sentementes
778270
/locations/7426557
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Crosby is the North Andover Fire Department's fire investigator.
When a fire is put out and the smoke clears, questions remain. How did it start? What was the cause? That's where Fire Investigator Jeff Crosby steps in. Crosby has lived in North Andover for about 18 years and has served on the North Andover Fire Departmen for 6 years. When did he decide to become a firefighter? "Ever since I was that small," he said, holding his hand about a foot off the floor. "My father and grandfather were firefighters back in Connecticut, so I kind of grew up around it," he said. Crosby also had friends and mentors who investigated fires, which led him to that path. And it is an intense path to take. He attended the Massachusetts Fire Academy, earned a bachelor of science in fire science with a concerntration in fire…
42.70278
-71.1308
Town of North Andover Fire Department
124 Main St, North Andover, MA
/articles/keeping-you-safe-jeff-crosby
778270
/locations/7404636
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
And it had been just purchased within the hour.
When Steve Stoll of Winthrop bought a sleek, spotless 1994 Mercedes for his girlfriend Tuesday, it was used, but it looked nice and he figured the car would get a lot of use. At least, a lot more than an hour's worth. But at about 6:30 p.m., North Andover firefighters were called to Boston Market on Route 114, where that same white Mercedes was now black and engulfed in flames. Lawrence firefighters joined them, since that lot is technically in Lawrence. "We just bought it 20 minutes before in New Hampshire," Stoll said, in remarkably good spirits for someone who just left a flaming automobile. Stoll was actually sitting in the car when it caught fire. His girlfriend was in another car and noticed the smoke and flames and called 911. …
42.680753
-71.134956
Boston Market
435 Winthrop Ave, North Andover, MA
/articles/car-engulfed-in-flames-at-boston-market
778136
/locations/7402604
Thursday, June 28, 2012
The massive fire tore through two buildings near the Merrimack River.
North Andover firefighters rushed into Lawrence Thursday to help deal with a 3-alarm fire on Water Street. The fire ripped through a three-story home at 267 Water St.and spread to a second three-story home next door. Firefighters managed to put the fire out, but the damage is extensive. Fire Departments from several area communities responded with mutual aid, including North Andover, North Reading, Andover, Tewksbury and Wilmington. "It's bad," North Andover Firefighter Sean Fountain said at the scene. He, along with firefighters John Weir and Scott Swiniarski brought Engine 1 to Lawrence to help. "When we got to Broadway we could smell the smoke from across town," Fountain said. One complication the three North Andover firefighters faced …
42.697378
-71.174564
267 Water St, Lawrence, MA
/articles/north-andover-firefighters-help-battle-lawrence-blaze
/locations/7342538
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Two-alarm fire broke out shortly after 9:30 p.m. Thursday.
The North Andover Fire Department responded to a two-alarm blaze at 82 Union St. just after 9:30 p.m. Thursday. The fire started in a two and half story multi-family wood-frame dwelling, according to scanner reports from ActionPage System. Andover and Lawrence provided mutual aid and station coverage, according to reports. At 10 p.m it was reported the fire was coming up from the first floor in the interior walls of the living room. 10:09 p.m. — Haverill and Methuen were also providing station coverage. 10:11 p.m. — Scanner reports indicated Red Cross was responding to provide rehab. 10:14 p.m. — Rehab 5 was reportedly on the way to the scene. 10:16 p.m. — Power was cut to the building. Firefighters on scene reported live wires on the …
42.70029
-71.138876
82 Union St, North Andover, MA
/articles/fire-department-battles-2-alarm-blaze-on-union-street
/locations/7213020
Bryan McGonigle
11:08 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Glad you're ok! At least you have a sense of humor about it since no one was hurt. more ›