Norwood Firefighters Local 1631

02/15/2026

In 2025 Chief Bailey contracted a staffing study to look at the Norwood Fire Department and if it was staffed properly for the hazards that exist in our town. The short answer that was made apparent quite quickly was….. No, Norwood FD has not seen an increase in manning in over 50 years and during that time the Town of Norwood has grown steadily.

The daytime population and hazards in this town have swelled significantly and have far outpaced the staffing that exists currently at NFD, the closure of Norwood Hospital only exacerbated an already strained staffing model

During that time period an average of 59 line firefighters have been assigned to NFD, in 1977 there was 59 Firefighter’s staffing 1 Ambulance, 2 Engines, 1 Ladder and 1 Command vehicle, they did 2,909 calls that year

In 2026 there are 60 Firefighters staffing 2 ambulances, 2 Engines, 1 Ladder and 1 Command Vehicle (we staff more trucks with less people on them than in 1977 and we did over 7,200 calls)

Norwood Firefighters Local 1631 in conjunction with the Town of Norwood MA will be scheduling informational sessions in the coming weeks to be able to explain the information in the study as well as answer any questions and the next steps towards the staffing issues at Norwood FD

02/14/2026

We wanted to take a moment this morning to recognize Nick Lento our NFD mechanic. The Norwood Fire Department responds to over 7200 emergency calls per year and over 6500 fire prevention and inspectional calls

Mechanic Lento is responsible for maintaining not only our emergency apparatus E5, E6, L1, SQ1, SQ2, NA4 and NA5 but also our reserve/spare apparatus fleet and our Command and Fire Prevention SUVs and Trucks. Nick is based out of the firehouse which is invaluable when time is of the essence to keep our trucks operational and going out the door, as well as ensuring problems or issues are identified and fixed quickly

Highlighting this, Ladder 1 had to come out of service the night of the Brierwood fire due to a burst air brake line Mechanic Lento came in from off duty and was able to identify and remove the damaged part, in less than 24 hours he had the braided air line manufactured and reinstalled placing Ladder 1 back in service

While all of our apparatus are unique and integral in the service we provide we have spares and reserves for the Engines and Ambulances, we do not have a Reserve Ladder Truck so getting it back in service ASAP was a top priority, Nice work Mechanic Lento your hard work and dedication does not go unnoticed!

02/13/2026

Last night shortly after 7PM Holbrook Regional Emergency Communications Center dispatched crews to 7 Brierwood Lane for the reported structure fire. Enroute the 911 caller reported smoke and flames coming from the roof, Engine 6 on their arrival encountered heavy smoke from the front door and NC2 ordered the Working Fire assignment bringing a Walpole and Westwood Engine and a special call for Canton Ladder 2 due to Norwood Ladder 1 being out of service for mechanical reasons

Upon entry to the structure heavy fire conditions were encountered and a large area of the first floor had burned through to the basement, a second hose line was stretched to the basement and crews were sent to the roof to ventilate. Along with the report that the homeowners were not home a primary search of the structure confirmed that information. Crews operated for over 2 hours chasing hot spots and overhauling. Norwood Fire Investigators were requested to the scene along with the State Fire Marshals office to determine the cause, a Fire Watch remained on scene into the night.

During the fire Norwood PD and Norwood Light crews assisted NFD on scene securing utilities and ensuring the scene remained secure. An Engine Company from Dedham along with off duty Norwood Firefighters on a recall covered the Town during this time. As always thank you to our mutual aid partners and our partner agencies in Norwood for assisting us at the fire.

Walpole Firefighters IAFF Local 2464
Westwood Firefighters Local 1994
Canton Firefighters IAFF Local 1580
Dedham Firefighters Local 1735
Norwood Police Department
Norwood Light Electric & Broadband

02/13/2026

Crews are operating at the scene of a working fire on Brierwood Lane, please avoid the area. Westwood and Walpole Engines companies are being sent to the scene and a Dedham Engine company is enroute to cover the town.

02/10/2026

Thank you Mr. President! Thanks too to Mayor Koch and Friends Of Quincy Firefighters IAFF Local 792 for leading the way!

01/31/2026

Engine 6 is enroute Mutual Aid to the Town of Dedham to cover their Headquarters while DFD operates at a Working Fire on Winfield St

01/30/2026

As we’ve all seen winter is here and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon! We’re asking for our neighbors help, join our Adopt-a-Hydrant effort!

Simply “adopt” the fire hydrant nearest your home or business and keep it clear of snow and ice after every storm. A visible, accessible hydrant can shave precious minutes off response times when seconds count it could help save a life, a home, or your neighborhood.

It’s easy:
• Pick a hydrant on your street or near your property
• Shovel around it (at least 3 feet in all directions) after snowfalls
• Report any damaged hydrants to us right away

No formal sign-up needed — just do it and let us know you’re helping! (Bonus points if you name your hydrant and share a photo with us) **Shout out to NFD’s own Phil Morrison for one of his classic art pieces from 2001**

01/27/2026

Engine 5 responding Mutual Aid to Medfield for Station Coverage on their 2nd Alarm Fire

01/26/2026

This morning at approximately 0800 crews responded to the area of 31 Rose Court for the reported odor of Natural Gas. Upon arrival crews went to work investigating the cause during this time Engine 4’s crew witnessed a catastrophic failure of the buildings gas meter. This was a high pressure main line that began venting on the exterior of the building.

Due to this hazard crews evacuated the building and residents were relocated while a National Grid emergency crew attempted to isolate and shut the leak down.

This was 1 of over 25 calls Firefighters answered throughout the height of the storm, to include a fatal pedestrian accident at the Norwood Central train station. As everyone begins to dig out, if you identify or think there may be a hazardous condition including wires, gas or something else please DIAL 911 and do not approach the area. Please Avoid DPW and Utility crews while they work to get the streets and sidewalks cleared

01/24/2026

Strong Work Braintree Fire!

My name is Andrew Leneweaver. I am a United States Navy veteran and have … Andrew Leneweaver needs your support for Support a Therapy Dog for Our Firefighters

01/23/2026

Hazardous cold temperatures will move in tonight and tomorrow (-11° with wind chill) and the pending winter storm Sunday into Monday (18-24” of snow) we would like to share some information and tips to ensure you and your family stay safe

- Ensure your Smoke Detectors and CO (Carbon Monoxide) detector batteries are fresh and the devices are in working order. **CO is a colorless odorless and tasteless toxic gas that can be lethal

- Make sure all gas exhaust vents and other utility meters remain clear of snow and ice. Clogged pipes or inaccessible utility shut offs can cause CO to enter the home or delay emergency services in shutting off utilities if necessary

- Try to avoid traveling during the storm, Norwood DPW will be working nonstop to keep the roads clear but with the possibility of 18-24” of snow traveling will be hazardous, so it’s best to avoid doing so unless necessary

- If possible try to keep your neighborhood hydrants clear. With over 800 fire hydrants in town the DPW and NFD crews try to keep as many clear as we can but any help is always appreciated

- Avoid any downed wires, even if they do not appear energized they can be wrapped around other wires and be carrying an electrical current which can be deadly

If you come across any downed wires or other hazardous conditions or emergencies during the storm DIAL 911 and do not approach, if you have any questions or concerns contact the Norwood Fire Business line 781-762-1313

Holbrook Regional Emergency Communications Center
Town of Norwood MA
Norwood Police Department
Norwood Light Electric & Broadband
National Grid
Norwood DPW

01/16/2026

This morning NFD concluded the yearly Ice Water Rescue review and training. Norwoods Firefighters respond along with Westwood and Walpole to all water and ice rescues on Willett Pond (New Pond) and training on these scenarios is imperative to maintain operational readiness. While crews were called out during training multiple times for emergency calls during the week and training evolutions, all 4 Groups completed the training goals to ensure their proficiency.

While events such as these are not common when they do happen they come with incredible risk to not only the victims but the responders tasked with successfully getting the person out of the water and off the ice. Firefighters reviewed the use of the Rescue Alive sled, as well as proper donning and doffing of the Mustang Survival suits. Crews performed evolutions of rescuing victims using both the sled and by hand using proper form and technique to get the victim up over the ice shelf and back into shore.

Today, crews were joined by the Norwood Police Department who were more than happy to participate in some inter-agency training showcasing their UAV/Drone capabilities that can make a huge difference in Search and Rescue scenarios. Thank you to NPD Officers Jurewich and Dixon for coming out today and to NFD Lieutenant McDonough for leading and teaching the ice water training.

Norwood Police Department
Town of Norwood MA