For Immediate Release

Friday, Feb. 2, 2018

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-9003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Maynard Fire Department Appoints First Female Captain

MAYNARD — Chief Anthony Stowers is pleased to announce that the Maynard Fire Department has appointed Firefighter Angela Lawless to the rank of captain.

Capt. Lawless is the first female firefighter to complete the department’s probationary period, as well as the first female officer in the history of the Maynard Fire Department. She replaces Capt. Peter Morrison, who announced his retirement last week after 32 years of service as a career firefighter, all of which he worked in Maynard.

“We are extremely pleased to announce Angela as our next captain and first female officer,” Chief Stowers said. “She has been a tremendous asset to our department from the day she started here and I am looking forward to seeing her thrive in her new role.”

Capt. Lawless, who will be leading Group Three, has been with the Maynard Fire Department since 2012 and officially began her new role on Friday, Jan. 26. She began the promotional process in October, which included a written test, an assessment, an oral board and writing assignment.

“I am very excited to begin this next chapter of my career and could not have gotten to this point without the support and encouragement of my department,” Capt. Lawless said. “I would also like to thank my family — being a family member of a firefighter is not easy and I can’t thank thank them enough for being so patient and supportive.”

The Holliston resident is a mother of three. She grew up in York, Maine and was raised in the fire service, with both her father and step-father serving as firefighters in Maine and Virginia, respectively.

In 2006, she attended the Massachusetts Fire Academy as a call firefighter and again as a firefighter in 2013. She continues to work at the Massachusetts Fire Academy as an instructor.

During her time with the Maynard Fire Department, Capt. Lawless has worked as the EMS coordinator and recently attended the the National Fire Academy for a two-week course on management of EMS services.

In addition to working with Maynard Fire, Capt. Lawless has worked for the Holliston Fire Department since 2003 as a call firefighter and EMT.

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