Mary Johnson Photo
Branford’s Fire Commission yesterday appointed Deputy Chief Tom Mahoney as the department’s next fire chief. Mahoney, 49, began his career as a volunteer fireman in 1987 and has steadily worked his way up the proverbial fire ladder.
He takes over “an excellent, highly professional department,” he said in an interview. It is a department that is highly adept at fighting fires as well as providing emergency ambulance services.
Half of the department’s crew, Mahoney said, is ambulance trained and on the go all day long. “We average 17 ambulance calls a day; overall 3,000 ambulance calls a year” in a town with an aging population. Often ambulance crews spend little time in the firehouse. There are now 24 career firefighters in the department, he said.
Focus on Training
He said training is one of his most important priorities. “We are jacks of all trades, and we need to make us all the masters of all trades.”
Mahoney’s appointment was announced yesterday by Robert J. Massey, Jr., chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners. He sent a message to firefighters and staff yesterday morning informing them of Mahoney’s appointment.
The fire commission met a week ago to interview three candidates for the department’s top post. The commission makes the final hiring choice. Three top candidates were interviewed: New Haven Chief of Operations Matt Marcarelli, East Haven Deputy Chief Paul Norwood and Mahoney. A number of potential candidates dropped out after various medical licensing and other certified requirements were posted for the job.
Meeting in executive session Monday night, the commission awarded the top post to Mahoney. The Board of Fire Commissioners will meet next week to approve Mahoney’s contract, which has not yet been finalized. They will also determine Chief Mahoney’s starting date. Massey’s message concerning the appointment was posted on a fire department Facebook page.
When Mahoney saw the Facebook message he quickly responded. “Thank you so much for your calls and messages of support as I look forward to assuming the awesome responsibility of caring for the safety of the men and women of the Branford Fire Department and the entire Branford community. It is truly humbling the faith you have in me….”
Mahoney came to the Branford Fire Department in 1995 and became a deputy chief in 2001. He has helped develop the fire department’s transition into an emergency paramedic facility. He is currently one of the fire department’s fire service instructors.
Acting Fire Chief Shaun Heffernan, who was first appointed to the position, decided he did not want the full-time chief’s position. Heffernan has explained that he has a young family; he also had academic commitments. Heffernan is expected to return to his role as deputy chief.
Fire Chief Jack Ahern, who served the department for some 35 years and was one of its most respected administrators, retired at the end of last year. After Heffernan pulled out, the Commission officially launched a search for a new chief.
Mahoney started as volunteer fireman in Madison, his hometown, when he was 21 years old. Volunteers play a large part in the life of the Branford firehouse and they will be right at home with the new chief.
Mahoney lives in Branford with his wife, Sherry, three boys and a dog named Lola.
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