Saugus Fire welcomes new firefighter

SAUGUS – Paul Eaves, 27, of Saugus, started his first official week with the Saugus Fire Department this week after 12 grueling weeks at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy.?It was a lot of work and a huge commitment,” said Eaves. “We train on every aspect of fighting fire, from running a hose to rapid intervention teams to save downed firefighters.”Eaves, who was born and raised in Saugus, is no stranger to hazardous work environments. He served two tours in Iraq in the United States Army before heading to the fire academy.?Being in the military helped me a lot to get through the academy,” said Eaves. “And it will help to get through any situation that I?m going to see as a firefighter.”But firefighting also runs in Eaves? blood. His dad is currently a captain in the Chelsea Fire Department and his grandfather was also a firefighter. Coming from a firefighter family, Eaves said becoming a firefighter is something he?s always wanted to do.?My dad wasn?t around everyday,” said Eaves. “But I knew where he was and I was OK with that. I spent a lot of time with him and I spent a little time with him because he was working. But he always came home happy so I figured it would be a good profession to be happy doing what you do.”But coming from a firefighting family is a lot different than actually being a firefighter, said Fire Chief James Blanchard. One thing Eaves will have to get used to is “never being able to relax,” Blanchard said.?You never know when the alarm is going to ring and it happens at the (worst) times you can imagine,” said Blanchard. “Anything you?re doing at home, we?re doing here. If you?re using the facilities and you get a call, you gotta be on that fire engine. You have to be thinking of that all the time.”But after seeing Eaves? progress during training and at the academy, Blanchard said he has high hopes for his newest firefighter.?He?s a great kid and has a great background being an Army veteran,” said Blanchard. “We trained him here before he went to the academy and had a chance to interact with him in stressful conditions and he did fine. He?s really going to be a good fireman. We?re woefully undermanned so it?s very important to have new firefighters.”Lt. James Hughes, who will be working with Eaves at the Essex Street Firehouse, said having a new firefighter on board is going to take some getting used to.?It?s a little interesting,” said Hughes. “You have to be more alert for somebody to watch out for that?s not ready to watch out for you yet. It?s a lot more training. But I think Paul is going to do just fine. He seems like a pretty sharp kid.”While he?s only been on the job for four days, Eaves said it?s been an “amazing” experience because he?s been around ” a lot of good guys.”And when it comes time to cook his first meal, Eaves hinted that something big might be on the menu soon.?I haven?t cooked anything yet,” said Eaves. “But I?m going to have to bust something out at some point, maybe a roast beef dinner.”Matt Tempesta may be reached at [email protected].