Wakefield Fire Department Welcomes Two New Firefighters

WAKEFIELD — Provisional Fire Chief Thomas M. Purcell is pleased to announce the appointment of two new firefighters to the Wakefield Fire Department.

William C. Curran and Christopher F. Hagan were sworn in by Town Clerk Betsy Sheeran during a brief ceremony at the Town Hall on Feb. 7.  

At the ceremony were Town Administrator Steve Maio, Provisional Chief Purcell, Acting Deputy Chief Brian Purcell, Capt. David Shinney and several of the new firefighter’s family members.

The appointment will bring the department up to its budgeted staffing level of 55 members including four groups of 13 firefighters, a Fire Prevention/Code Enforcement Captain, a Deputy Fire Chief and a Chief of Department.

Curran, 34, is a veteran of the United States Army. He served nine years active duty as a Field Artillery officer and was deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Qatar in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and Operation Inherent Resolve. He currently serves as a Captain in the Massachusetts Army National Guard. Curran is a 2007 graduate of Wakefield Memorial High School. Curran also is a 2011 graduate of Norwich University and holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration. Firefighter Curran and his wife Alexandra reside on Grove Street in Wakefield.

Hagan, 31, is a 2010 graduate of Reading Memorial High School. He is a veteran having served as a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps from 2017 to 2021. Hagan specialized in low-altitude defense systems and stinger missile weapon systems, providing short-range surface-to-air ground-based air defense while serving with the 3D Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion at Camp Pendleton, CA. Hagan is also a commercial and residential Massachusetts licensed electrician. Hagan resides on Main Street in Wakefield.

The newly appointed firefighters start the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy as part of Recruit Class 310, a ten-week long program, on Feb. 9 with an anticipated graduation date of April 28, 2023.

“William Curran and Christopher Hagan are outstanding firefighter candidates and the Department looks forward to working with them as they start their careers in the fire service,” said Provisional Chief Purcell.