Wenham Gets Three New Firefighters

The Wenham Fire Department has three new firefighters, bringing its call firefighter ranks back to full staff.

The new firefighters are Michael Allain, Zachary Ingraham and David Marsh. Marsh is already a full-time Wenham police officer.

The Fire Department has a full-time fire prevention officer and three-quarter time chief, but the bulk of Wenham's firefighters are call firefighters who are paid for the time they spend training and responding to calls but all have other jobs.

The department had 27 firefighters as the Fire Study Group underwent its work last year. Now that the study is complete, Chief Bob Blanchard told the Board of Selectmen on Monday that three new call firefighters were hired as provisional firefighters.

"We are excited to have them on board with us," Blanchard told Patch.

Before becoming a Wenham police officer, Marsh was a Fire Lieutenant in Swampscott.

The three were chosen after interviews and references checks of several applicants. The interviews were done by Blanchard, Deputy Chief Stephen Kavanagh, Capt. Dan Sullivan and Capt. Jeff Baxter.

Also on Monday the Board of Selectmen unanimously reappointed Blanchard as chief for another year.