Easton Firefighters Assist in Tornado Recovery Efforts

In what has been a statewide effort to assist in cleanup and ensure safety after deadly tornadoes hit the central part of Massachusetts Wednesday evening, a crew that included Easton firefighters and one Easton ladder truck made its way to Brimfield, Mass. early Thursday morning.

Four Easton firefighters, including Captain James Walsh, Leiutenant Thomas Nicholson, Firefighter Rick Salve and Firefighter John Dzialo were assembled in the Statewide Mobilization Plan at approximately 4 a.m. in Norton.

"This task force assembled at the Norton fire headquarters and went to Brimfield as a group," Fire Chief said. "There were a total of six pumpers and two ladder trucks."

Included in Easton's task force were Norton, Rehobeth, Seekonk, Attleboro, Taunton, Berkley and Raynham. Currently the task force is assigned to a neighborhood in the damaged area, knocking on doors to ensure of peoples' safety.

"They actually had to go home to home and door to door and check to see if there were any victims or anybody injured – that sort of stuff," Stone said.

The four Easton firefighters sent to Brimfield were on duty at the time of the mobilization. Easton fire officials were called in to back-fill at the Easton stations when the crew departed.

Stone said Easton's crew will be busy throughout the day Thursday, after which other crews will likely be sent in.