For Immediate Release

Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Topsfield Fire Department Announces Promotions, Recognition and New Hire

TOPSFIELD — Chief Jen Collins-Brown is pleased to announce the promotion of two members of the Topsfield Fire Department, as well as honors for six veteran firefighters and the hiring of a new firefighter.

Conor Brown and Thomas Ash were each promoted to the rank of lieutenant on Oct. 30, and were recognized by Chief Collins-Brown and the Board of Selectmen at a ceremony yesterday evening.

Lt. Brown joined the Topsfield Fire Department in 2010 after working as a call firefighter in Yarmouth, Maine, Middleton and Topsfield. He is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in fire service management at Salem State University and already possesses an associate’s degree in fire science.

Lt. Ash was hired full-time in Topsfield in 2012 after serving as a full-time firefighter in Boxford and as a call firefighter in Topsfield. He also has an associate’s degree in fire science.

Both newly-promoted lieutenants are certified as paramedics, firefighter I/II, incident safety officers, fire instructor I and hazardous materials first responders at the operational level. Lt. Brown is also certified as an ALICE school violence protocol instructor and as a fire officer I.

In their new roles, Lieutenants Ash and Brown will responsible for a single company of firefighters and will command incident responses.

“I am proud of Lt. Brown and Lt. Ash for earning their new roles, and I am confident that they will both be excellent leaders and role models for our entire department,” Chief Collins-Brown said. “They stood out during the promotion process, and I want to congratulate them both.”

Six Veteran Firefighters Recognized for Years of Service 

Chief Brown is pleased to honor a group of distinguished veterans of the fire service in Topsfield for their years of dedication to the department.

Through a Massachusetts Fire Service program, firefighters earn recognition based on their years of service beginning with their 20th year of service and again in five year increments.

“We have a remarkable pool of experienced firefighters who have dedicated essentially all of their adult lives to serving the community,” Chief Collins-Brown said. “I’m honored to recognize them for their commitment to working in a field that is extremely demanding.”

The firefighters recognized this week were:

• Captain Darrell Moore — 40 years
• Captain Charles R. Denault Jr. — 35 years
• Firefighter Charles K. Brown — 30 years
• Chief Jen Collins-Brown — 30 years
• Lt. Donald Y. Wood — 25 years
• Acting Lt. Charles B. Wood — 25 years

Topsfield Fire Welcomes a New Member

The Topsfield Fire Department also welcomed its newest member, Firefighter John Boyle, who joins the department after working as a call firefighter in Ipswich and Essex.

“This is an exciting milestone in Firefighter Boyle’s career, and I am excited for the contributions that he’ll make to the department and the community,” Chief Collins-Brown said. “The pinning of the badge symbolizes the trust that’s been placed in him by all of us, and I am confident he will wear that badge with pride and distinction.”

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