Concord Firefighters Win Awards

The Concord Fire Department held its annual awards last week. The following individuals received awards: 

Firefighter of the Year: Lt. Brian Saltmarsh

Distinguished Service Award: Battalion Chief Guy Newbery

Emergency Medical Services Excellence: Capt. Derek Kelleher; Firefighter Chris Dolloff; Firefighter Robert Martel; Firefighter Paramedic James Farley; Firefighter Cory Clark (Saving the life of a patient with a respiratory emergency); Lt. Merle DeWitt; Firefighter David Currier; Firefighter Philip J. Tirrell, Jr.; Firefighter Paramedic Christopher Collins; Firefighter Jonathan Sinclair; (Saving the life of a cardiac arrest patient). 

Helping Hands (for community members): Ms. Christy Nault (Assistance with awards ceremony); Mr. and Mrs. Brian and Melissa Yeo (rescue of stranded boaters in Contoocook River; Jackson McFarlin (identifying and suppressing a fire at his home); Jennifer DeVoe; Sarah Roberts; Store Manager Brian Bucknam; Mr. Unisa Bangura; Mr. Thomas Darling; Ms. Sabrina Frenette; Mr. Tyler King (coming to the aid of an employee who had suffered a cardiac arrest.  The employee was resuscitated and made a full recovery).

Lt. Brian Saltmarsh

Lieutenant Brian Saltmarsh joined the Concord Fire Department as a Call Firefighter on May 5, 1986.  Less than one year later, he was appointed as a full time Firefighter on April 13, 1987.  He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on March 26, 1994, and served as the Department’s Emergency Medical Services & Professional Standards officer from 2005 through 2011, before returning to his position in the Suppression Division.

Throughout his career, Lieutenant Saltmarsh has proven to be not only a capable Firefighter, but has developed a reputation as a company officer who is composed on emergency scenes and calculated in his decision making.  His technical knowledge and leadership skills make him a valuable member of the Department to both his fellow firefighters and to his officers.

Lieutenant Saltmarsh carries a passion for high quality training and through his own initiative has developed and taught numerous skills refresher programs for the members of his Battalion and the Department.  He also serves as a Senior Staff Instructor at the New Hampshire Fire Academy and actively assists with the coordination of technical rescue certification programs. Through that affiliation, Lieutenant Saltmarsh has brought numerous classes to the Concord Fire Department, providing certification opportunities in technical disciplines of ice, confined space, and rope rescue.  This has advanced Departmental capabilities while also increasing the safety of personnel engaged in special operations incidents.

More recently, Lieutenant Saltmarsh has served as a liaison between the Concord Fire Department, the New Hampshire Fire Academy, and the Concord School District in successfully launching a new Fire Science program offered by the Concord Regional Technical Center.  This program introduces high school students to the fire service as a career, while providing certification and mentorship opportunities.

Lieutenant Brian D. Saltmarsh is indeed a credit to the Concord Fire Department and the City of Concord.  As such, we honor him as the 2014 Firefighter of the Year.

Battalion Chief Guy Newbery

The Distinguished Service Award recognizes members of the City of Concord Fire Department who, throughout their career, have continually exemplified the best qualities of those who have distinguished themselves not only as individuals within the Concord Fire Department, but the fire service at large and especially as members of the community.  Professionalism, strength of character, and empathy toward their fellow citizens are the hallmarks of such a person.  Several speak of those qualities; fewer still attain and practice them.  Battalion Chief Guy Newbery is one of those few.

Battalion Chief Newbery was appointed to the Concord Fire Department as a Firefighter on June 7, 1980. Since his appointment, he has risen through the ranks, serving as a Lieutenant, Captain, and in his current position as Battalion Chief.  Some of Battalion Chief Newbery’s other achievements include: 

• Co-creator of the children’s “Fire Safety Puppet Show” for the Fire Prevention Bureau.
• Staff Instructor at the New Hampshire Fire Academy, where he teaches current and future firefighters in several disciplines of both basic and advanced aspects of tactical fire attack.
• One of the chief instructors of numerous Concord Fire Department recruit training programs for probationary members and in the IAFF Fire Ground Survival Program, teaching firefighters self-rescue techniques to be used the fireground.
• Member of FEMA Massachusetts Task Force 1 as the Urban Search & Rescue Team’s Hazardous Materials Manager.
• Served as a member of the Executive Boards of IAFF Locals 1045 & 3195 and the Concord Firefighters Relief Association, and continues as an active member of Local 3195 as a participant in the City’s Healthcare Committee.
• Counselor to troubled teens in the community, using his strengths as a mentor to help guide at-risk children in our community toward making more positive life choices.

Ever the student of fire science, Battalion Chief Newbery has spearheaded various projects improving operations of Department.  Examples include fire attack procedures for hi-rise incidents, participating in the design and specification of replacement fire apparatus and hose selection, and most importantly as a mentor to the next generation of firefighters and officers.  On a humanitarian level, it is not an unusual sight to see “Guy Newbery”, not “Chief Newbery”, knocking at the front door of your home, offering anything he and his wife Mary might do to help a brother or sister in need.

George Washington once said “It is the actions and not the commission that makes an officer, and there is more expected of him than the title.”  Battalion Chief Guy T. Newbery is a remarkable example of this motto, and as such we honor him with this Distinguished Service Award. 

More photos from the event are available for purchase from Jeffrey Hastings/Frame of Mind Photography. 

Submitted by Chief Dan Andrus.