Most chimney fires start with a build-up of creosote from burning wood. Cracks in the masonry can allow embers to escape and ignite the structure. Having your chimney and flue inspected and cleaned each year can reduce this risk: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/winter-home-heating-safety

DFS Incident Support Units provide communications, conferencing, and mapping capabilities for large-scale events and long operational periods. The Special Operations team can deliver them anywhere, anytime. Learn more about these and other resources: https://bit.ly/3RoyXSW

Hazmat techs recently supported #FitchburgMA FD with a mercury spill. Mercury is toxic! If you have a mercury spill at home, call 911, open the windows, and keep kids/pets away. Better yet, safely dispose of mercury products before they become a hazard: https://bit.ly/4wNlinI

What better way to close out Fire Prevention Week than with #MendonMA FD as they host our side-by-side sprinkler trailer? Stop by their Open House at 1:00 for this dramatic live-fire demonstration of a powerful tool to protect people, pets, and property!

DFS held an orientation session last week for new fire chiefs and command staff. It outlined the services we offer directly, and colleagues from our partner agencies covered everything from interoperable communications to the Statewide Fire Mobilization Plan.

#PeabodyMA FD recently responded to a house fire that started with an overloaded power strip. Extension cords & power strips are common factors in electrical fires: protect yourself and your loved ones by limiting their use, and always plug heavy appliances into a wall outlet: https://bit.ly/4zlPJDl

Massachusetts fire dep'ts reported 22 lithium-ion battery fires last month -- the highest number on record and double what was reported in Sept 2025. As rechargeable batteries power more and more devices, this year's Fire Prevention Week theme focuses on safely charging them: https://bit.ly/4nXFwWV

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Mass Fire Academy offers free mammograms, along with other free cancer screenings, through a comprehensive awareness, prevention, and early detection program. The worst cancer diagnosis is a later one -- visit https://bit.ly/4pTvHLU to learn more.

55 years ago today, the Legislature established in the Division of Occupational Education "a training school for firefighters to be known as the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy." The MFA has grown from one lone rural building to three campuses serving over 13,000 FFs per year.

Massachusetts law requires all homes to be inspected for working smoke and CO alarms prior to sale or transfer. If you're selling a home, be sure your alarms are listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory like UL or Intertek/ETL! Read more: https://bit.ly/43JoqFq

#TechRescue Tuesday: The Mass Fire Academy's Structural Collapse Rescue Technician course is one of the most complex that we offer, teaching the skills necessary to safely extricate people trapped by a building collapse, rubble, and related hazards: https://bit.ly/4xYHH15

.@massgovernor.bsky.social has declared Oct 4-10 as #FirePreventionWeek in Massachusetts! This year's FPW theme emphasizes safely charging lithium-ion batteries, which power the devices we use every day and also contribute to a growing number of fires. Plug in safely: https://bit.ly/4y7vdo7

Fire Prevention Week starts today! We're joining NFPA to promote this year's theme, "Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower.” As rechargeable batteries power more & more of the devices we use every day, battery-related fires are increasing too. Plug in safely: https://bit.ly/4hzh0tQ

The rate of fire deaths is 90% lower with properly installed and maintained sprinklers. Come see them in action! #MendonMA FD is hosting our side-by-side sprinkler trailer for their Open House on Oct. 10. Don't miss this dramatic demonstration of a powerful tool to protect people, pets, & property!

Heading to @thebigefair.bsky.social this weekend? Don't miss the DFS booth in the Massachusetts building! Thanks to State Fire Marshal Davine, Deputy Secretary Terrey, and fire chiefs from Southwick, Granby, West Springfield, Russell, Belchertown, and Agawam for stopping by!

Let's hear it for the members of Career Recruit Training #Class342! They graduated from the Fire Academy today after 10 long weeks of foundational training. Congratulations to the Commonwealth's newest firefighters and thank you to the Academy's instructors and support staff!

The Mass Fire Academy's Chief Fire Officer Management Training Program is delivered with the @umassboston.bsky.social Collins Center for Public Management. Five months of intensive classroom instruction and independent study enhance students' skills in municipal fire department leadership.

October is #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth. A recent survey showed that breast cancer accounted for more than 25% of cancer diagnoses among women firefighters. DFS offers free mammograms and other cancer screenings for firefighters: learn more at https://ow.ly/C8Is50To5MQ

On this date in 1964, Boston Fire Lt. John McCorkle, Lt. John Geswell, FF Robert Clougherty, FF Francis Murphy, & FF James Sheedy made the ultimate sacrifice at a five-alarm fire on Trumbull St. Read more: https://www.firehero.org/2021/10/25/memorial-monday-boston-toy-factory-fire/

As we close out College Fire Safety Month, remember that student housing (and all housing in Massachusetts) should have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Check the manufacturing date on the back to be sure they're within their useful lifespan and test them every month: https://bit.ly/3NjZFWQ

DFS Hazmat technicians supported @SpringfieldFire this month at the scene of a chemical reaction. Wearing Level A suits, techs were able to transport the container outdoors to off-gas while metering the environment. Once safe, they released the scene to a private cleanup company for safe disposal.

#TechRescue Tuesday: The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy's Technical Rescue Group recently delivered its Water Rescue class for 21 firefighters from across the state. Great work by our students and thank you as always to our instructors and support staff!

Today is #WorldHeartDay. Everyone knows firefighters have big hearts, but they're at greater risk of heart disease, too. One study suggests that this risk increases w/ more fire-related calls. Protect yourself & your health! Read more from the American Heart Association: https://ow.ly/4lRE50X2v90

A 9-alarm fire that claimed the lives of two Boston firefighters started with unsafe hot work. DFS has revised its Hot Work web page to provide the public with information on hot work violations, as well as regulatory requirements for workers & businesses: https://bit.ly/4yfneGc

Western Mass fire chiefs, NFPA, and New England's State Fire Marshals joined State Fire Marshal Davine at the Big E fair last week to advance Fire Prevention Week. This year's theme addresses safely charging lithium-ion batteries. Read more: https://bit.ly/4rzcC2r

Rehab 7, back in quarters

If you're using a generator for storm-related power outages, remember to use it safely and be sure you have working #SmokeAlarms and #CarbonMonoxide alarms on every level of your home. Used improperly, generators can pose a fire hazard or CO risk: https://bit.ly/4APH2lx

The Mass Commission for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing, @massdph.bsky.social OEMS, and DFS collaborated on an Emergency Services Card to help firefighters, EMS, and people who are Deaf or hard of hearing communicate during an emergency. Learn more and download a hi-res PDF at https://ow.ly/bo0B50TvH7h!

We have some lousy weather on tap this weekend. High winds and heavy rain make it safest to stay indoors if you can. If you must head out on the roads, drive safely, slow down and move over for emergency vehicles, and keep those headlights on -- it's the law!

Congratulations to the members of Career Recruit #Class342! They're graduating from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy next week after 10 long weeks of foundational training. Join us in Stow on 10/2/26 at 11:00 am!