Tewksbury Fire Department

10/25/2026

Over the weekend, A-2 responded to assist the Lexington Fire Department and area first responders with a mass evacuation at CareOne in Lexington after the facility experienced a major power failure.

More than 130 residents were safely moved to neighboring facilities thanks to a massive, coordinated regional effort by departments and EMS crews from across the state. Great teamwork by all involved!

Read more about the response here: https://www.wcvb.com/article/over-130-residents-evacuated-from-lexington-nursing-home/74238981

10/19/2026

A massive thank you to everyone who came out and made it such a fun, memorable day for our community. Events like this don't happen without dedicated people working behind the scenes, and we want to take a moment to recognize those who made it all possible here at the fire department:

Jeanne O'Brien – An extra-special thank you to Jeanne for her incredible effort in pulling this whole event together!

Kayla Smith – A huge shoutout for volunteering her time and braving the bee buzzing around inside the dog costume to bring so many smiles to the kids!

Melissa Sandberg – Thank you for volunteering your time and keeping the sweet tooths satisfied by handing out candy all day!

Pete Smith, Kevin Duggan, Mike Merrill, Taylor Brothers, Jack Callahan, Susanna Darrigo, Blake Hery, and the on-duty crew – Thank you all for representing our town so well and supporting the department throughout the event!

We’re already brainstorming ways to make next year even bigger and better... including a fun idea to fill the pumpkins with red Jell-O!

10/16/2026

10/16/2026

🚒 FINAL ALARM | THANK YOU, CHIEF KEARNS! 🚒

After more than 30 years of dedicated service to the Town of Tewksbury, Fire Chief Joseph Kearns has answered his final call and officially signed off.

Throughout his career, Chief Kearns has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to public safety, leadership, and the firefighters and community he served.

His dedication extended beyond the Tewksbury Fire Department when he stepped up to serve as Acting Executive Director of the Northern Middlesex Regional Emergency Communications Center during a period of transition. While he may not have anticipated taking on this assignment, we will always appreciate his willingness to lead and support our dispatchers when we needed him most.

Today, we had the honor of recognizing Chief Kearns over the radio, one final time.

As we share this recording alongside memories from his years of service, we want to express our sincere gratitude for his leadership, dedication, and lasting impact on both the Tewksbury Fire Department and NMRECC.

Chief Kearns, on behalf of all of us at NMRECC, thank you for your service, your leadership, and for always answering the call.

It has been an honor to be your dispatch.

Enjoy your well-earned retirement, Chief! ❤️🚒

10/16/2026

After 34 years of dedicated service, we are proud to celebrate the retirement of Chief Joseph Kearns.

Throughout his career, he has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the fire service, the department, and the Town of Tewksbury. His leadership, dedication, and countless contributions have helped shape the department and the lives of those who have had the privilege of working alongside him for over three decades.

A career in the fire service is about so much more than responding to calls. It’s about sacrifice, teamwork, leadership, and being there for others when they need it most. For nearly 35 years, he has embodied those values.

As he begins this exciting new chapter, we thank him for his years of service, his leadership, and his commitment to keeping our community safe.

Congratulations on your retirement, Chief! Thank you for everything you have done for us. Wishing you all the best in this well-deserved retirement. We will miss you and we hope we continue to make you proud!

10/10/2026

As we wrap up the fourth and final day of cancer screenings for the members of Tewksbury Firefighters Local 1647, we are proud to share that more than 80% of the members have taken advantage of this important health initiative.
Through United Diagnostic Services, LLC, members have had access to comprehensive ultrasound screenings, including heart function, carotid arteries, thyroid, complete abdominal, and pelvic ultrasounds. Members also had the opportunity to receive the Galleri multi-cancer early detection blood test.
Firefighters face unique occupational risks, making proactive health screenings and early detection especially important. Taking these steps is an investment in the health, well-being, and future of our members and their families.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Town of Tewksbury for providing the funding for this extremely important initiative. Your support helps our firefighters take meaningful steps toward protecting their health and detecting potential health concerns as early as possible.
Our members dedicate their lives to protecting the health and safety of our community. We are grateful for the opportunity to take these important steps to protect them, too.

10/10/2026

10/05/2026

The Tewksbury Council on Aging/ Senior Center & Board of Health is hosting an upcoming blood drive on Thursday, October 8th.

Ways to make a difference in your community:
🩸 If you are able to donate blood, you can sign up here: https://bit.ly/tewkshealthfair
🩸 If you are not able to donate blood, please consider sharing this post to help spread the word!

09/25/2026

I would like to thank Jennifer Weaver, MA, CAGS, CRC, LMHC (), for taking the time to come speak with all four of our shifts about mental health and wellness.

This is an area that can very easily be overlooked, especially in the fire service, where our members are constantly focused on the safety and well-being of others. Jen did an outstanding job speaking openly and frankly with our members about the importance of taking care of themselves and recognizing that their own mental health and well-being matter too.

Taking care of others starts with taking care of ourselves.

A special thank you to Lieutenant Pete Smith for putting this program together and recognizing the importance of providing our members with these resources.

Thank you, Jen, for your time, honesty, and willingness to have these important conversations with our members. We truly appreciate it. Tewksbury Firefighters Local 1647

06/15/2026

Yesterday, the Lowell Fire Department hosted its annual Firefighters Memorial Sunday. This event provides an opportunity for us to honor the firefighters who came before us and helped pave the way for future generations of firefighters through their dedication, sacrifice, and service.
We are grateful to the Lowell Fire Department for including the Tewksbury Fire Department in this meaningful ceremony and providing us the opportunity to remember the members of our department who passed away during the past year.
This year, we honored the memory of:
• Chief James Morris
• Captain Donald Greer
• Lieutenant Richard Gath
• Firefighter Daniel Donovan
Their commitment to our department, our profession, and the community they served will never be forgotten. We remain thankful for their service and the lasting impact they made on the Tewksbury Fire Department and those who had the privilege of serving alongside them.
Please continue to keep their families, friends, and former colleagues in your thoughts as we remember and honor their legacy. Tewksbury Firefighters Local 1647
Photos courtesy of Debbie Guttadauro