Fairhaven Fire Chief Timothy Francis sits behind his desk at the Fire Station on 12/29/20, one of his last days on the job before he retires on 1/8/21 after 42 years with the department, 22 as chief. Photo by Beth David.
By Beth David, Editor
Tim Francis has had a good run… well, lots of runs, fire and ambulance runs to be exact. After 42 years in the Fairhaven Fire Department, 22 as chief, Mr. Francis is retiring.
His tenure saw lots of changes, including the move of the ambulance service from the police department to the fire department. Firefighters had to be trained as paramedics, the whole shebang had to be outfitted. He negotiated with the hospital ambulance service for equipment, the union for the new job requirements, and town officials for everything else.
Mr. Francis started with the department as a call firefighter in 1979, was appointed as a permanent firefighter in 1982, rose to the rank of lieutenant in 1993, was appointed deputy chief in 1995, and replaced Chief David Crowley in 1999.
“Dave Crowley taught me a lot,” said Chief Francis.
By far, the biggest thing was taking over the ambulance service. Chief Francis said for firefighters to become paramedics is “all part of rescue,” and being first responders.
“It goes hand in hand,” he said.
The department now runs three ambulances, and they are “going constantly.”
Department personnel are also training constantly, allowing them to branch out with things like COVID testing.
Of course, not all days are filled with training. Some days, you have to use that training. It can be extremely rewarding, and it can be extremely difficult. The worst days are the ones where a life is lost, or someone is injured.
“No chief likes to lose a building or a life,” said Chief Francis.
One of the worst was when he had to notify a friend, a co-worker, of a family member’s death in a car accident. It was deputy chief Donn Fletcher’s sister who was killed, and he was on the scene. They did not know who it was until later.
“Then we realized it was her. That was one of the worst days,” he said.
Another tough day was the Oxford Pub fire, which resulted in one man’s death and one man severely burned.
Fairhaven Fire Chief Timothy Francis gives a big smile to the local free sheet on 10/6/19 at the department’s annual fire safety demonstration. Neighb News file photo by Beth David.
Chief Francis said he was the first one to pull up in the ladder truck because everyone else was out on a call. That made it harder, being alone for those first minutes. And, he had to drive the ladder truck, something he had not done in a long time.
“But the good days outweigh the bad,” said the chief. “There were a lot of good days.”
He enjoyed going to work every day, enjoyed the people he worked with, enjoyed the challenge of meeting the needs of Fairhaven and the wider public, too, through his membership in a couple of state and regional organizations.
“I’m a guy that needs a challenge every day,” he said. “You never know what you’re going to run into every day. It could be a false alarm, or a working house fire.”
“It’s been a very fulfilling career, plus I have great people behind me.”
He sang the praises of the office staff, the firefighters, and especially the administrative assistant Kristine Austin: “She keeps me out of trouble.”
So does Todd Correia, who is deputy chief, but will take over as interim chief now, and then chief.
No on is “an island,” said Chief Francis, they all have to rely on each other. “I trust them with everything I do.”
He said he wants everyone to know what a great place Fairhaven is, a town he was born and raised in, and can’t imagine living away from. He loves living in town, he loves seeing people at the grocery store and they know his name.
“I want people to realize what a gem we have in this town,” said Chief Francis, with good people, a great place to raise children. “Everybody knows everybody.”
“If you fall in the street, somebody’s going to pick you up, and no one’s going to walk over you,” he said.
The chief is looking forward to spending time with his first grandchild, an activity that COVID-19 has restricted so far.
The chief also disclosed that he had the virus, had pneumonia. He was worried, but did not have severe symptoms.
The best part of the job was “just knowing that you’re helping people,” he said, adding that people call the fire department for all kinds of reasons. He’s proud that they always try to help.
“It’s the best feeling to have helped,” he said.
He recalled helping a woman whose parakeet got out and they rescued it.
“She was so grateful, we got it and put it in the cage.”
He said people call when they have water in their basements, and they pump out when they can.
“We don’t just put out fires,” he said. Call, ask, you’d be surprised what they can help with.
People show their appreciation, too, he said, by dropping by the station with baked goods and other goodies.
He tells his firefighters: “Treat them like you would treat your family. Open up your heart.”
Not everyone can do it.
“You learn from it,” he said, adding that the worst part of the job is disciplining someone.
“But it’s a necessity of the job,” he said.
“I’ve had a good run of 22 years as chief,” with good men and women he worked with, and he got to see the department “come a long way.”
“We came out of the dark ages in 30 years,” said Chief Francis, noting that now they respond to all kinds of disasters and hazards such as oil spills in the harbor, marine rescues. “And people call us for everything.”
He also said he is leaving the department in good hands, with Mr. Correia set to take the reins, and Joy Nichols appointed as deputy chief, the first woman in that job.
“Todd will do an awesome job as chief,” said Mr. Francis, adding that he will take the department into the future.
“I’ve worked under him my whole career,” said Mr. Correia, adding that when he started as a call firefighter, Mr. Francis was lieutenant, and then appointed him the first EMS training officer in 2005. “And from there he’s been a real great mentor.”
“He’s a very smart individual,” said Mr. Correia. “He’s very politically smart and business smart.”
He said they went to the state house and everyone seemed to know Mr. Francis by name.
Through his work politically and through organizations, he has “dispersed” a lot of money, maybe tens of millions of dollars, to the southcoast.
“I don’t think people know that,” said Mr. Correia.
But it wasn’t always easy.
“He’s a tough boss,” said Mr. Correia. “He’s always been pretty tough, but fair.”
“He’s been a great mentor to me, and has prepared me for the next step,” said Mr. Correia. “I can’t wait to get started.”
Josh Benoit will be the new lieutenant, and Ms. Nichols the new deputy chief.
“We never like ‘yes people,’” said Mr. Correia, adding that Ms. Nichols was never afraid to speak her mind. “We like people to challenge the decision we are making so we look at all avenues.”
She’s very dedicated, he said and “very union,” but she also understands her next role is a management role.
“But she’ll also be bringing that to the office,” he said, adding that she has a master’s degree in fire management and is “more than capable, and we’re excited. It doesn’t matter that she’s a female, she’s a qualified individual.”
He said they’ve been “watching the community” and they are happy they picked a woman, but made it clear that is not why they picked her.
“It’s not about her being female, it’s about her being qualified,” said Mr. Correia.
Ms. Nichols said she could see the opening was coming up and started studying for the exam about a year and a half ago. Others took the test, too, but she passed it.
She said she has plans for the new role, but it was “premature” to be talking about them, but, “I have my own ideas I want to bring forward.”
She downplayed the significance of being the first woman in the job.
“I’m just happy to be given the opportunity,” she said. “If you can do the job I really don’t see why it makes a difference one way or the other.”
She said she never had trouble with the men in the department: “Once you establish you can do what anyone else can do you really don’t have any issues.”
In an email statement, Selectboard chairperson Daniel Freitas said he worked under Chief Francis as a call firefighter and the chief always wanted “nothing but the best for his firefighters and in turn his hometown.”
He said the chief earned the respect of the residents and they in turn gave the department what it needed.
“As a Selectman I have worked with the Chief on many occasions and it was always a privilege to be able to work with him. I’ve known Tim since I was a kid and my dad worked for the Fire Department. I’m going to miss seeing him heading to calls and knowing his guys would be [all right] because he was a great Fire Chief. I wish him much relaxation in his retirement!”
Town Administrator Mark Rees, who is also retiring this week, also had nothing but praise for Chief Francis, saying it was “nothing but a pleasure” to work with him over the last five years.
“He’s a consummate team player. He loves the fire department and the services it provides,” said Mr. Rees, adding that he has “seldom seen someone as dedicated as he is.”
Mr. Rees said it takes a “special type of person get in situations and have the calmness and capability and training to deal with some pretty anguishing stuff sometimes.”
He said the chief leaves his department in good shape.
“He should be greatly appreciated for his work,” said Mr. Rees.
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