Six in Mansfield Fire Promoted to Captain

Decades of firefighting experience were on hand at Wednesday’s selectmen meeting as six Mansfield firefighters were promoted to captain by chief Neal Boldrighini.

“Tonight is consider a milestone for Mansfield Fire,” Boldrighini said during the swearing in ceremony.

The six men, all lieutenants for Mansfield Fire, were sworn in at the beginning of the meeting in front of a proud board of selectmen, fire department, and family members,

“We’ve spent the past 25 years together and I’ve seen the impact of their courage and capability. Together we will continue to built towards the future of the Mansfield fire department,” Boldrighini said.

Below are the six new captains and their backgrounds.

• Richard Fiske - Started as a call fireman in Mansfield in 1977, became a full time firefighter in 1983, and was promoted to lieutenant in 1995. A legacy firefighter, Fiske served with his father and multiple relatives.
• William Burgess - Hired in 1993, Burgess has served as a firefighter since 1985, starting in Norton and Sharon. In 2004, he was promoted to lieutenant. A legacy firefighter, Burgess’ father is the chief of the Norton Fire Department and he has two brothers who are also firefighters in Norton.
• Robert Merritt - Hired by Mansfield in 1990, he was promoted to lieutenant in 2004. From a family of firefighters, his grandfather served in the Boston Fire Department and his brother serves in the Taunton Fire Department
• Donald Tebeau - Hired by Mansfield in 2001 and promoted to lieutenant in 2005. Prior to serving in Mansfield he was a member of the Rehoboth Fire Department and Ambulance Squad starting in 1988 and a paramedic since 1989. Tebeau is also an associate professor with the Massasoit Community College Paramedics Program.
• Mark Goyette - Hired by Mansfield in 2001 and promoted to lieutenant in 2006. Prior to serving in Mansfield, he was a member of the Seekonk Fire Department since 1988 and a medic since 1998. Goyette is also a paramedic instructor at Massasoit Community College. Coming from a family of firefighters, Goyette has several uncles in the Attleboro Fire Department.
• John Terry - Hired by Mansfield in 1996 and promoted to lieutenant in 2008. Before becoming a firefighter, he was in law enforcement and a member of the Mansfield Reserve Force. He serves as one of the lead fire investigators.