TURNERS FALLS — Deputy Chief John Zellmann has been sworn in as the Turners Falls Fire Department’s new chief, while Firefighter Michael Currie has been promoted to captain.
Both assumed their new roles during a ceremony Thursday night at the Montague Public Safety Complex.
Zellmann replaces outgoing chief Robert Escott Jr., who will take an early retirement after serving in the position for five years.
Escott swore Zellmann in, and Zellmann in turn swore Currie in.
Zellmann started on the Lake Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department and became a full-time firefighter in 1987. He was named captain in 2000, and deputy chief in 2014.
He said he plans to continue leading the department in the direction set by retiring Escott, and to continue building more safety and health initiatives into the department’s operations to keep his firefighters safe.
“Cancer awareness, things like that. We have the sunscreen dispensers now, they’re in all the trucks,” he said. “To keep these guys safe for 30 years, that’s my number one priority.”
He also hopes to hire new firefighters to bolster the department’s ranks.
New Captain Michael Currie started his career with Turners Fire at the age of 22, but he’s been putting out fires for much longer than that — he’s worked for the Department of Conservation and Recreation fighting wildfires and as a Junior Volunteer Firefighter in Conway from the age of 14.
“It truly is a passion, it truly is something I love to do,” Currie said of his career. “Chief Zellmann was my first shift captain, he and I had a lot of great experiences together, and he’s a great person to learn from — a true leader and I’m happy to work under him.”
Currie said he feels honored and privileged to be named captain. “I totally had support from my co-workers, my wife and my family, and I’m very happy to serve this department.”
You can reach Tom Relihan at: 413-772-0261, ext 264
or: trelihan@recorder.com
On Twitter: @RecorderTom