Published in the January 4, 2019 edition.

NEW FIREFIGHTERS Sean M. Gill (left) and Patrick Farrell (right) were sworn in by Chief Michael Sullivan on December 19.

WAKEFIELD – Wakefield Fire Chief Michael Sullivan is proud to announce the appointment of two new firefighters to the Wakefield Fire Department.

Sean M. Gill of 503 Water Street, Wakefield and Patrick R. Farrell of 25 Reynolds Road, Wakefield were sworn in as permanent firefighters during a brief ceremony at the Wakefield Public Safety Building on December 19. Gill and Farrell were appointed to replace the vacancies created earlier this year by the resignations of Captain Christopher Smith and Firefighter Patrick Jarvis. The new appointments bring the department closer to its budgeted staffing level of 50 with four groups of twelve firefighters plus a Fire Prevention Officer and the Fire Chief.

Sean Gill is a 14-year veteran of the United States Army and Army Reserve, currently serving as a Sergeant with the 325th Transportation Company, responsible for transporting aviation fuel and other supplies to forward operating bases. Sean was deployed twice, once to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom and then a second time to Poland during Operation Atlantic Resolve – European Reassurance. Sean is a 2003 graduate of Wakefield Memorial High School. He is currently working towards an associate’s degree in Fire Protection and Safety Technology at North Shore Community College.

Patrick Farrell is currently employed as a Security Officer with the Massachusetts General Hospital. He is a 2010 graduate of Wakefield Memorial High School and holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Massachusetts.

The newly appointed firefighters will attend the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy as part of Recruit Class 271, a 10-week training program starting on December 31, 2018 with an anticipated graduation date of March 8, 2019. Wakefield Fire Chief Michael Sullivan stated “Sean Gill and Patrick Farrell are excellent firefighter candidates and I look forward to working with them as they start their new careers in the fire service”.