Norwood Firefighters Local 1631

03/09/2026

On March 26th at 7PM in the Public Safety Community Room, Local 1631 will be hosting an informational session about the Public Safety Override that will be voted on at Town Meeting in May. In the weeks leading up to this event, we will be sharing posts that explain how day-to-day operations and staffing work at the Norwood Fire Department and why additional personnel are needed to maintain safe staffing levels. Norwood FD operates 4 Groups working 24 hour shifts.

Each shift consists of:
1 Captain
2 Lieutenants
12 Firefighters

This brings the fully staffed shift total to 15 personnel on duty. However, the department operates with a minimum staffing level of 14 personnel per shift. When staffing drops below that number, off-duty firefighters are called in to fill the vacancy and maintain minimum staffing. Most shifts operate at this minimum level of 14 firefighters regularly due to daily vacancies

NFPA 1710 advises the initial full alarm assignment to a structure fire in a typical 2000 square foot, two-story, single-family dwelling without a basement and with no exposures must provide for a minimum of 17 firefighters if an aerial device is used. Using this standard as a benchmark, we are below that level even at our MAXIMUM staffing.

Since 1975, Norwood has grown significantly in both residential and commercial development. The town’s daytime population also increases dramatically due to the many industries and businesses located here. Along with modern firefighting challenges and the hazards associated with a large commercial and industrial tax base, these factors have placed increasing demands on emergency services. As a result, the needs of today’s community have far outpaced our current staffing levels, and we hope you will support efforts to address that gap. Please join us March 26th at 7PM to learn more about this important vote and how it affects your Norwood Firefighters

03/05/2026

This past Tuesday evening the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to support and place the Public Safety Override for both Fire and Police on the May Town Meeting Warrant. The decision to ask the residents of Norwood and the Town Administration for an override to support increasing staffing and training here at NFD did not come lightly and was the result of a multitude of factors to include that Norwood Fires staffing has remained stagnant at 60 firefighters for 50 years

An in depth staffing study was performed by Parow Consultants and Chief Bailey who has 40 years of experience in firefighting and leadership. They looked at every aspect of Norwood Fire and the town, our significant increase in call volume, staffing in relation to NFPA 1710 as well as the hazards that are present in town ranging from single family homes to multi story residential, industrial and manufacturing buildings.

We would like to invite the public to join us March 26th here at the Public Safety Building Community Room at 7PM for an informational presentation. Members of Norwood Fire will be in attendance to provide information and answer questions the public may have in regard to the override, the change in staffing as compared to our current daily operations, the staffing study and any other questions you may have

Town of Norwood MA
Norwood Police Department
Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts (PFFM)

03/04/2026

We would like to give a shout out to two more awesome citizens who found the closest hydrants to their homes and made sure they were clear of snow in the event there is an emergency nearby that NFD needs to utilize the hydrant.

Thank you very much to Michael and Ellie for taking time out of their day to help us out, we can’t thank you enough! Even as spring is slowly clawing its way into the northeast hydrants remain buried under snow banks and every hydrant cleared is a huge help to us!

03/04/2026

This morning around 7:15 Engine 6 was dispatched mutual aid to the Town of Needham for their 2 Alarm Structure Fire. Engine 6 provided station coverage while Needham crews and other surrounding towns operated on Fuller Road. Off Duty Norwood Firefighters were called in to cover the town while Engine 6 was tied up

03/02/2026

This afternoon, shortly before 4PM HRECC received a radio call from a Norwood Police officer on patrol reporting that a pedestrian had been struck and was still under the vehicle. Engine 6, Ladder 1, NA4, and NC2 responded. Upon arrival, they found a pedestrian still under the vehicle suffering from multiple injuries. Canton’s Blood Transfusion Truck was requested to the scene, as well as an ETA on MedFlight.

The patient was extricated from under the vehicle and transported by ground to a Boston Trauma Center, accompanied by two additional firefighters. Due to the patient suffering from multisystem trauma, Canton C6 intercepted with Norwood Paramedics and accompanied the crew to the hospital. During this time, off-duty firefighters were called in to cover the short-staffed Engine 6 and Ladder 1. Norwood PD remained on scene and the investigation is ongoing please avoid the area. (Scene Photo credit to NBC10)

Norwood Police Department
Canton Firefighters IAFF Local 1580
Holbrook Regional Emergency Communications Center

03/01/2026

This morning Group 2 Firefighters held a breakfast and bid farewell to two longtime members of the group and presented them with gifts to acknowledge their years of service and dedication to not only the Town of Norwood but also to Local 1631.

Firefighter/EMT Kevin Brown, hired in 1993 will leave us with 33 years of service and a well known reputation of not only being a bull on the fireground but his skills in working with his hands. Whether it was making custom designed fire house signs or operating his own business, you could always find Kev involved in some type of project. We wish FF Brown a long and healthy retirement and hope that this wont be the last breakfast he decides to stop in and have at 135 Nahatan Street

Firefighter/Paramedic Paul Ronco, hired in 1995 will leave us (yes he's really retiring this time) with 31 years of service and as one of the most well known Norwood Firefighters around town and a strong and well respected President of Local 1631. Firefighter Paul as he is known was one of the original Paramedics of NFD and has cared for the residents of this town during their worst hour. FF Ronco will leave behind a hole in not only Local 1631 but in the SAFE program that he has been a part of for many generations of students. We wish FF Ronco a long and healthy retirement, and we hope that he'll stop in from time to time when he ventures up from South Carolina. Local 1631 also hopes he invests in an electronic calendar so he can stop double booking himself on a regular basis, but you know what they say about teaching old dogs new tricks....

Good Luck in your retirement gentlemen, you will always be welcome at 135 Nahatan Street and you will always be family to Local 1631

02/25/2026

Engine 6 is responding mutual aid to the Town of Walpole to the scene for their Working Structure Fire on School Street

02/24/2026

We would like to give a shout out to Josh over on Lenox Street. As soon as conditions improved and the storm had passed he was out clearing the closest hydrant to him on Lenox Street. Nice Work Josh! We hope you enjoyed your snow day and we appreciate you helping to keep the Town and your Neighbors safe!

02/24/2026

The storm has broken. After you finish cleaning off the car and clearing your driveway, give us a hand and dig out your closest fire hydrant! Strong work President Ronco and FF/EMT Greeley!

Key Elements for Shoveling a Fire Hydrant Graphic:
Clear Radius: A 3-foot (about 1 meter) circle of cleared snow around the hydrant.
Access Path: A clear, shoveled path from the street or sidewalk to the hydrant.
Visibility: The hydrant should be completely visible, with snow cleared down to the ground.

02/22/2026

The National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Warning and report that this could be a potentially Historic/Destructive Storm. Please ensure you have made all necessary preparations and DIAL 911 for any hazards or emergencies you encounter

[Potentially Historic/Destructive Storm southeast of the BOS-PVD corridor] We are very concerned for areas southeast of the Boston-Providence corridor where wet snow combines with northeast wind gusts of 60-70 mph. Power outages & tree damage. Worst conditions Mon 4 am to noon.

02/22/2026

A major winter storm is expected to impact Norwood with heavy snow, strong winds, and dangerous cold. Please take a few minutes to prepare and keep safety in mind.

• Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries if needed
• Keep heating and exhaust vents clear of snow and ice
• Never run generators or grills indoors or in garages
• Avoid unnecessary travel so emergency crews can respond quickly
• If able, clear snow from nearby fire hydrants — it truly helps
• Stay far away from downed wires — always assume they are live

If you encounter an emergency or hazardous conditions during the storm, DIAL 911.

Our crews are ready and will be working throughout the storm. Please stay safe, stay warm, and be sure to check in on your neighbors

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

02/18/2026

In the coming weeks we will be holding Public Informational Sessions to discuss the Norwood Fire Department Staffing Study. We will also be answering any questions the public may have in regards to our day to day operations at NFD and why an increase in staffing is so crucial at this time. We plan to explain how important it is to try and meet NFPA 1710, so what exactly is this standard?

NFPA 1710 is the national standard that outlines how quickly and with how many firefighters career fire departments should respond to emergencies like house fires, cardiac arrests, and serious medical calls. It’s based on decades of research showing that time and staffing save lives. When fewer firefighters arrive, those tasks must be done sequentially instead of simultaneously, which delays rescues, allows the fire to grow, and increases risk to both residents and firefighters