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In case of an emergency dial 9-1-1
Athol Fire Department
Our Team
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide well-deserved fire and emergency services to the Athol community, by a group of well-trained, highly-motivated, and truly professional firefighters.
CHIEF OFFICERS
Joseph Guarnera
Fire Chief | EMT-B
Date Started: June 1997
College Degrees or Licenses: A.S. Criminal Justice, A.S. Fire Science, B.S. Criminal Justice, Masters-Education/Instructional Design
Certifications/Special Trainings: Credentialed Fire Chief, Chief Fire Officer (CFO), Hazmat Technician/Specialist/IC, Fire Officer I/II, Fire Instructor I/II/III, Fire Health and Safety Officer Fire Suppression, Incident Safety Officer Hazmat, Rope Technician, Confined Space Technician, Structural Collapse Technician, Task Force Leader, Fire Investigation Basic and Advanced, Youth Fire setting Prevention and Intervention, ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, and 800.
Special Units or Organizations: Massachusetts Statewide Hazmat Response Team District 6, NFPA 1041 Committee, Massachusetts Fire District 8 Fire Investigation Unit Coordinator/Lead Investigator, FCAM Professional Development Committee, International Association of Fire Chiefs Professional Development Committee.
Massachusetts Firefighter of the Year Meritorious Group 2006, Speaker FDIC, National Fire Administration Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education Committee Executive Director.
Jeffrey Parker
Deputy Chief of Department| EMT-P
Date Started: October 1995
College Degrees or Licenses: A.S. Fire Science
Certifications/Special Trainings: Credentialed Fire Chief, Chief Fire Officer (CFO), Fire Officer I/II, Chief Fire Officer 3, Fire Prevention Officer I/II, Firefighter I/II Certified, Incident Safety Officer, Public Fire and Life Safety Educator, Fire Investigation Basic and Advanced, Hazmat – Operational Level, Bomb Recognition Training at New Mexico Tech, MMA Municipal Finance Management Training, ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, and 800.
Special Units or Organizations: Massachusetts Fire District 8 Fire Investigation Unit Lead Investigator, Member of FCAM, FPAM, Western MA Fire Prevention Association, and IAFC. Vice Chair of Vacant and Abandoned Building Committee in Athol.
Fire Chief in Phillipston, MA. Named Outstanding Recruit from Class 140 at the MA Fire Academy. Licensed Oil Burner Technician, CDL License. Eagle Scout.
CAPTAINS & LIEUTENANTS
Andrew Soltysik
Captain | EMT-B
Date Started: July 1999
Certifications/Special Trainings: Swift Water Rescue Tech, Ice Rescue Tech, Large Animal Rescue Tech, Firefighter I/II, Hazmat – Operational Level, ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, and 800.
Eric Jack
Captain| EMT-P
Date Started: October 2005
College Degrees or Licenses: A.S. Fire Science
Certifications/Special Trainings: Fire Instructor I, Fire Officer I, Fire Prevention Officer I/II, Swift Water Rescue Tech, Ice Rescue Tech, Firefighter I/II, Credentialed Fire Chief, attended 6 day NFA Courses: Command and Control at Multi Alarm Incidents, Plans Review Sprinkler Plans, and Hazmat Code Enforcement. Hazmat – Operational Level, ICS 100, 200, 300, and 700.
Special Units or Organizations: Member of FPAM, Western MA Fire Prevention Association, and FCAM.
MA Fire Academy Instructor for fire prevention and Call/Vol program, US National Guard Veteran, AFD Apparatus coordinator and dispatch liaison.
James Ferguson
Captain| EMT-P
Date Started: August 2009
College Degrees or Licenses: Bachelor’s Degree – UMASS Amherst
Certifications/Special Trainings: Fire Instructor I, Fire Officer I, Fire Prevention Officer I, Swift Water Rescue Tech, Ice Rescue Tech, Firefighter I/II, Hazmat – Operational Level, ICS 100, 200, 300, and 700.
Previous fire experience working for the Amherst, MA student force from 2003-2007 reaching the rank of Lt. Attended paramedic program at Northeastern University.
Jamal Hamilton
Captain| EMT-B
Date Started: July 2012
Certifications/Special Trainings: Youth Firesetter Prevention and Intervention Specialist, IAAI – Fire Investigation Technician, Swift Water Rescue Tech, Certified Ice Rescue Instructor, Firefighter I/II, Hazmat – Operational Level, Confined Space Rescue, Rope Rescue – Operational Level, ICS 100, 200, and 700.
Special Units or Organizations: District 8 Fire Investigation Unit, NoFires Screener/Educator
MFA Graduate Class 192, AFD Training Officer, AFD SAFE Coordinator, AFD Firefighter of the Year 2022.
Kevin Kaczmarczyk
Captain| EMT-P
Date Started: August 1996
College Degrees or Licenses: Paramedic License – Greenfield Community College 2000.
Certifications/Special Trainings: AFD EMS Coordinator, Incident Safety Officer, Swift Water Rescue Tech, Ice Rescue Tech, Firefighter I/II, Hazmat – Operational Level, ACLS, PALS, and CPR Instructor, ICS 100, 200, 300, 700 and 800
Special Units or Organizations: Central MA Regional Board Member, Member of the Red Knights
Central MA Paramedic of the Year Award 2022.
CAREER FIREFIGHTERS
Bruce Dubrule
Firefighter| EMT-P
Date Started: July 1998
College Degrees or Licenses: Associate Degree
Special Units or Organizations: Massachusetts Fire District 8 Fire Investigation Unit Lead Investigator, Member of FCAM, FPAM, Western MA Fire Prevention Association, and IAFC. Vice Chair of Vacant and Abandoned Building Committee in Athol.
Firefighter of the Year Award 2004
Chad Girard
Firefighter| EMT-B
Date Started: July 2012
College Degrees or Licenses: Associate Degree in Fire Science
Certifications/Special Trainings: Swift Water Rescue Tech, Ice Rescue Tech, Firefighter I/II, Hazmat – Operational Level, Mental Health First Aid, Critical Incident Stress Management trained, ICS 100, 200, 700 and 800.
AFD Firefighter of the Year Award 2021
Adam Harris
Firefighter| EMT-B
Date Started: July 2017
Certifications/Special Trainings: Swift Water Rescue Tech, Ice Rescue Tech, Firefighter I/II, Hazmat – Operational Level, ICS 100, 200, 700 and 800.
Travis Brailey
Firefighter| EMT-B
Date Started: July 2017
Certifications/Special Trainings: Swift Water Rescue Tech, Ice Rescue Tech, Firefighter I/II, Hazmat – Operational Level, Bomb Recognition Training at New Mexico Tech, ICS 100, 200, 700 and 800.
Derek Perry
Firefighter| EMT-P
Date Started: January 2018
College Degrees or Licenses: Associate Degree in Paramedicine from NECC
Certifications/Special Trainings: ACLS, PALS, CPR certified, Swift Water Rescue Tech, Ice Rescue Tech, Firefighter I/II, Hazmat – Operational Level, ICS 100, 200, 700 and 800.
US Navy Veteran
William Publicover
Firefighter| EMT-P
Date Started: August 21, 2018
Andrew Bond
Firefighter| EMT-P
Date Started: July 2019
College Degrees or Licenses: Associate Degree in Fire Science
Certifications/Special Trainings: Swift Water Rescue Instructor, Ice Rescue Tech, Tech Rescue trained, Firefighter I/II, Hazmat – Operational Level, ICS 100, 200, 700 and 800.
Special Units or Organizations: CERT Team Coordinator
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Ian Hogan
Firefighter| EMT-P
Date Started: July 8, 2019
Francisco Carra
Firefighter| EMT-B
Date Started: November 2019
College Degrees or Licenses: Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering
Certifications/Special Trainings: Swift Water Rescue Tech, Ice Rescue Tech, Surface Water Tech, Firefighter I/II, Hazmat – Operational Level, ICS 100, 200, 700 and 800.
Special Units or Organizations: Vice President – Athol Firefighter’s Association
AFD On-call Firefighter from 2016-2019.
Sean Paul Morris
Firefighter| EMT-B
Date Started: August 2019
Certifications/Special Trainings: Swift Water Rescue Tech, Ice Rescue Tech, Firefighter I/II, Hazmat – Operational Level, ICS 100, 200, 700 and 800.
Owen Anderholm
Firefighter| EMT-B
Date Started: January 2024
Combat Medic in the U.S. Army Reserves
Trisha Gonynor
Firefighter | EMT - B
Date Started: August 2024
Certifications/Special Trainings: Swift Water Rescue Tech, Ice Rescue Tech, Firefighter I/II, Hazmat – Operational Level, ICS 100 and 200.
CALL FIREFIGHTERS
Brian Boucher
Captain| EMT - B
Date Started: March 2010
Certifications/Special Trainings: : Swift Water Rescue Tech, Ice Rescue Tech, Firefighter I/II, Hazmat – Operational Level, ICS 100 and 200, Instructor 1.
Greggory Kimball
Lieutenant | First Responder
Date Started: February 2014
Certifications/Special Trainings: Swift Water Rescue Tech, Ice Rescue Tech, Firefighter I/II, RIT Trained, Pumps and Hydraulics Training, Hazmat – Operational Level, ICS 100 and 200.
David Adams
Firefighter| First Responder
Date Started: May 2012
Certifications/Special Trainings: Swift Water Rescue Tech, Ice Rescue Tech, Firefighter I/II, RIT Trained, Hazmat – Operational Level, ICS 100 and 200.
Todd Bowdridge
Firefighter| EMT-B
Date Started: September 2019
Certifications/Special Trainings: Swift Water Rescue Tech, Ice Rescue Tech, Firefighter I/II, Hazmat – Operational Level, Blasting Detail Certificate, MA Boating Safety Certificate, Fire Apparatus Operator/Engineer Training Level 1, ICS 100, 200, 700 and 800.
Agustin Carra
Firefighter| EMT - B
Laurie Parker
Firefighter | EMT - B
Date Started: November 2021
College Degrees or Licenses: Early Childhood Education
Certifications/Special Trainings: Ice Rescue Tech, Firefighter I/II, Hazmat – Operational Level, ICS 100 and 200.
Mom of three boys. Lives and works in Athol. Also, a Call Firefighter for the Town of Phillipston. Likes to garden, fish, run, and spend time with family and friends.
Jakub Sobon
Firefighter | EMT - B
Date Started: December 2022
Certifications/Special Trainings: ICS 100 and 200.
Also, a Call Firefighter for the Town of Phillipston.
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Casey Barrett
Firefighter
Date Started: February 2024
Brandon Fournier
Firefighter
Date Started: February 2024
HONORARY FIREFIGHTER
Kevin Miller Greenberg
Honorary Firefighter
Date Started: 2019
Kevin is very proud to be a volunteer with the AFD. He grew up in Longmeadow, MA and has lived in the Athol area since 2017. Kevin’s grandfather was a founder and Fire Chief of the New Johnsonville, TN fire department for over 30 years, thus he is proud to continue his grandfather's tradition of service. Kevin also enjoys competing in downhill skiing and bocce with Special Olympics Massachusetts. Kevin makes sure his family’s homes are properly outfitted with smoke alarms and fire extinguishers!
CHAPLAIN
Dan Parsons
Chaplain
Date Started: 2018
Dan is no stranger to the blending of faith and action. As a lifetime member of The Salvation Army, his life has been marked by opportunities to serve the underserved of our communities. Rising through the ranks he currently serves as the lay leader of the local corps and coordinates local responses of TSA Emergency Disaster Services team. He has been privileged to participate in multiple training opportunities and has been activated for large scale disasters such as the Springfield Tornado, Lawrence Gas Explosions. As a former member of the local CERT he has been involved in local sheltering activities and community events.
With a heart focused on the emotional as well as spiritual wellbeing of our first responders, Dan accepted the position of Chaplain of Athol Fire in 2018. He finds personal fulfillment in answering his calling to “Serve those who serve”. He continues his life of learning and training through membership in the Massachusetts Corps of Fire Chaplains.
ADMINISTRATION
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​Liz Bergquist
Administration Assistant
Date Started: 2014
Attended Athol High School & MWCC
Email: lbergquist@townofathol.org
PHOTOGRAPHER
Bryan Favreau
Department Photographer
Date Started: May 2023
Certifications/Special Trainings: CPR/BLS Certification
Anything else you would like added to your Bio: I have been documenting incidents for 25 years. My passion for photography and documenting the work of our local first responders has been a dream of mine since I was a young child.
CERT TEAM
Dennis Dzeima
CERT Team Member
Janelle Caron
CERT Team Member
Jacki Caron
CERT Team Member
Lois Duel
CERT Team Member
Debbie Jo Duel
CERT Team Member
Tricia Deforge
CERT Team Member
Wayne Swanson
CERT Team Member
Dan Potor
CERT Team Member
Nicole Thurber
CERT Team Member
Joy Howard
CERT Team Member
Nikki Lubao
CERT Team Member
Mary Ann Donze
CERT Team Member
Matthew Shepardson
CERT Team Member
Chelsea Vezina
CERT Team Member
Alex Barrett
CERT Team Member
Athol Fire at work
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