Four Bedford firefighters are new lieutenants, consummating a change in organizational structure approved by the 2020 town meeting.
Promoted to lieutenant were Nick Anderson, Matt Busa, Brian Oates, and John Perry. They join David Bauman, Michael Bauman, Mark Casey, and Scott Ricker, which means each shift now has two officers, said Fire Chief David Grunes.
Grunes said the lag time since approval is a result of waiting for the Civil Service eligibility list, which is based on testing offered every two years.
The new structure “provides us the ability to provide supervision at simultaneous incidents,” Grunes said. He added that “two supervisors at large incidents allow us to provide somebody to develop the operational strategies—do we have sufficient help and equipment?—while the other provides direct tactical supervision.”
Each of the new lieutenants offers special skills and experience, the chief pointed out.
Anderson’s area is fire safety education, and his expertise has been shared with local students during presentations at schools. Busa has been involved with evaluating apparatus for purchase and shares his mechanical knowledge with new recruits in the department.
Oates specializes in the fire alarm system and is a member of the state hazardous materials team, which provided him with the expertise to instruct colleagues in Bedford about using personal protective equipment as the pandemic took hold. Perry is one of the department’s original trained paramedics.
There are two new firefighters joining the department as well. Demarco Cabral is attending the state firefighting academy in Stow. Brandon Shea is scheduled to begin at the academy in the fall. The chief said there will be a swearing-in ceremony in September.
Mike Rosenberg can be reached at [email protected], or 781-983-1763
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