Saugus fire chief lauded for decades of service

SAUGUS – Saugus Fire Chief James Blanchard has seen a lifetime worth of fires and tragedies in his four-decades long career.Fire Captain Thomas Nolan presented Blanchard with his 40-year career award at the Central Fire Station on Hamilton Street Tuesday.?It?s been a tremendous honor for me to be a firefighter here in Saugus,” said Blanchard, who will retire on Friday, July 27. “And to be the chief of this remarkable department, I never in my life dreamed that I would do that. This means a lot to me and all you people coming today, it?s a big thrill for me.”A teary-eyed Blanchard spoke about the dedication it takes to be a firefighter, after receiving a round of applause and a few hugs.Blanchard then mentioned the death of a 2-year-old girl in Saugus last week, who was killed when her mother accidently dropped her outside a Saugus church, according to published reports.He noted firefighters never know what?s on the “other end of that alarm.”?Engine 1 did everything they could to revive that girl,” said Blanchard. “People say, ?That?s your job. You?re all paramedics and EMTs. You?re used to that.? You never get used to that and if you ever do, you should leave because no human should have to see another human in the condition these people see people in every day.”Nolan also spoke about the “thousands of fires” Blanchard has responded to in his career.?In the past 40 years you yourself have lost nearly 100 days due to injuries you have received in the line of duty,” said Nolan. “You have fought some of the most notable fires in your career: East Welding, the Dorr Memorial Church that nearly destroyed the Lynnhurst neighborhood, Pandy Pontiac and the Boston Baby Factory to name a few.”Nolan then pointed out one incident on Jackson Street several years ago that he said was sure to have stuck with Blanchard. While responding to a fire, Blanchard smashed a window with his helmet and wound up severely cutting his wrist.?A fire in a two-and-a-half-story house and you were nearly unconscious from heat and smoke inhalation, and the tremendous amount of blood loss from a severed artery, only to be saved by a fellow brother firefighter,” said Nolan.Nolan then read a letter from his father, who was chief of the department 40 years ago.The letter, which was written in 1972, welcomed a then-21-year-old Blanchard to the Saugus Fire Department, where he was assigned to group C at Central Station.?You are to report at 7:45 a.m. Sunday, July 16, 1972,” said the letter. “May I welcome you aboard. Respectfully yours, Thomas A. Nolan, Chief of the Department.”?It?s truly been an honor to serve with you,” said Nolan, as he fought back tears. “In the 40 years you have faithfully served our town and fellow townspeople. You have not only maintained the highest standard of duty, but you have raised that standard.”Blanchard?s wife, Christine Blanchard, said it?s sad to see his career come to an end, but noted she “thinks it?s time.”?This has been an integral part of our lives for the last 40 years,” she said. “He lives, eats, breathes fire history. It?s who he is. Fortunately, it?s a wonderful brotherhood and I hope he?s going to be happy. It?s a sigh of relief.”Next up for the Blanchards, according to Christine Blanchard, is a trip to Disney World with the grandkids in September, followed by a couple of months in Florida in the winter. But not before Blanchard gives a fire history class at the academy the week after he retires.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].