Origins of Cinder the Westford Fire Dog

Anyone living in Westford during the late 80s or the 90s fondly remembers Cinder, the dalmatian who became mascot of the .

From welcoming visitors to the Fire Department to representing fire fighters in each year's Apple Blossom parade to teaching children how to stop,drop and roll, Cinder was perhaps the greatest non-human celebrity that Westford has ever known.

But once Westford Patch reader has asked us where Cinder came from originally.

The answer comes from Ellen Harde's book "The True Story of Cinder, the Westford Fire Dog", as told by George Fletcher, former Fire Chief George Rogers and current Fire Chief Richard Rochon.

According to the book, Fletcher, then the town's dog officer, found Cinder as a puppy near the Jack Walsh Field in 1987.

Cinder faithfully served the town until she passed away in September of 2001, earning an entire page in remembrance in the 2001 Westford Town Report.

Her grave is located under a tree in front of the Westford Center fire house, just near to the emergency entrance across from the .