When Suffield native Brian Gauthier graduated from college and had time to spare, a town appeal for volunteer firefighters caught his attention. He applied in 2006, was accepted and quickly became enamored with the mission of firefighting.
Photo by Tony Peterson
Photo by Tony Peterson
Suffield’s new Fire Chief Brian Gauthier. He, his wife Nicole and their three sons, ages 7 to 13, live in Suffield.
He immersed himself in the mandatory firefighting courses, some held on evenings and Saturdays, requiring 250 hours of classwork. There were medical and driving certifications to earn, plus a timed Connecticut state physical ability test to pass. Additionally, Gauthier enrolled in multiple optional instructor and officer leadership courses to pursue promotions. He worked hard and credited the department’s career firefighters for helping guide his advancement. In 2010, he, too, was hired as a full-time firefighter, promoted to lieutenant in 2018, and then fire chief in April this year.
His short-term goals
Chief Gauthier has two immediate goals: hiring more volunteers and reestablishing camaraderie.
Currently, the department comprises eight career and 11 volunteer firefighters. He’s looking to hire 10 more volunteers. When I asked what the advantages of becoming a volunteer firefighter in Suffield were, he replied, “We actually have the most incentivized program in the state.”
• First, being a town resident is not mandatory. Currently, one captain on the force is a volunteer from Agawam, while a few volunteers live in Southwick.
• Volunteers receive a $200 town property tax abatement for each year they work, increasing by $200 annually, up to a maximum of $1,000.
• They are paid $25 per call they go on, “whether 10 minutes or 10 hours,” Gauthier noted, saying the force makes about 600 calls annually.
• They are paid a stipend for training they successfully complete.
• Their protective gear, which costs about $7,000 and includes an air pack, is paid for by the department.
(If you’re a man or woman interested in becoming a Suffield volunteer firefighter, visit the Fire Department’s page on the town website to apply. You must be at least 18, have a high school degree or equivalent, a driver’s license and pass a physical and background check. To enter the Suffield firefighter Cadet Program, you must be at least 14.)
As for rebuilding camaraderie within the force, Gauthier is offering more department-paid training and assignments, which he said his people want. He’s allowing each of the four fire stations to operate as it likes, provided it abides by regulations. He’s avoiding micromanaging his leaders so they can have their own voices.
“The people we have now are just great,” said Gauthier. “I’ve been really trying to give them the flexibility and authority to do their own work how they want to do it.”
“I have strong ties to the town. I’m very community-oriented,” he said. He wants the same for the fire department.
Important intermediate goal
Soon, Fire Station 1 at 73 Mountain Rd, which serves as headquarters, needs to be renovated or replaced, said Gauthier. It’s over 64 years old and, among various limitations, is not ADA-compliant, has no quarters for women, is not energy-efficient, lacks adequate training and meeting space and contains asbestos building materials. Gauthier has been meeting with the Fire Commission and the Permanent Building Commission to review options. It’s increasingly likely that a new facility will need to be built at a cost of $15 to $20 million. Gauthier realizes that’s a lot of money, but is hopeful that residents will understand the importance, noting, “The town has been fantastic. Voters have always given us every bit of equipment we could ever need.”