The Haverhill Fire Department was awarded $21,271 Friday from the Federal Emergency Management Agency as part of Assistance to Firefighters Grant COVID-19 Supplemental aid. Authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security known as CARES Act, the money is part of $100 million to support the purchase of personal protective equipment and related disinfectant supplies and […]
By WHAV Staff |
Incoming Haverhill Fire Chief Robert M. O’Brien. (Courtesy photograph.)
Haverhill Deputy Fire Chief Robert M. O’Brien will succeed William F. Laliberty as fire chief.
O’Brien was appointed by Mayor James J. Fiorentini and has already been asked to hire women and recruit minorities. He is scheduled to be sworn in during a ceremony Monday morning at the Water Street Fire Station. The mayor said he believes O’Brien will continue the progress on upgrading fire stations, replacing fire trucks and other equipment and lifting firefighter morale.
“After spending many hours in interviews, I am confident that Deputy Chief Robert O’Brien has the necessary skill set to continue this progress and move the department forward. He is already familiar with every man in the department, and with the fire plans for every large building in the city. He is ready to go on day one. He fully understands the Fire Department and firefighting and will fight to keep the people in
Upcoming retirements mean major changes in the leadership of Haverhill’s public safety departments.
Two recruitment efforts are already underway in City Hall to replace Fire Chief William F. Laliberty and Deputy Police Chief Anthony L. Haugh. Both men retire this month after decades of service. Mayor James J. Fiorentini says he is also looking ahead to the retirement of Police Chief Alan R. DeNaro.
“DeNaro has already told us he is nearing retirement age. He is going to be retiring shortly so we want to have some continuity in the department,” he said.
As WHAV reported first last November, Laliberty is retiring after 34 years as a Haverhill firefighter and four and a half years as chief. Similarly, Haugh retires after serving on the police force 33 years the last five as deputy.
By WHAV Staff |
December 29, 2020
Scene of head-on collision Christmas morning near 1475 Broadway in Haverhill. (Jarvi Productions photograph for WHAV News.)
Haverhill Fire Department’s new Rescue 1 truck was put to the test Christmas morning at two separate automobile accident scenes one with serious injuries.
Fire Chief William F. Laliberty said the 2020 Pierce Rescue was first dispatched to a seven-car accident around 6:30, Christmas morning, on Interstate 495, and its extrication tool used around 10 a.m. at the scene of a head-on collision along Broadway in Ayer’s Village.
“On Broadway, people needed to be extricated from both vehicles. They were treated and taken to local hospitals,” Laliberty said. While serious, he noted, none of the reported injuries were life-threatening.
Lawrence L “Larry” Comeau.
Lawrence L “Larry” Comeau, 76, a lifelong resident of Haverhill, died Dec. 15, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston.
Born in Haverhill, he was the son of the late Anselm and Rita (Charron) Comeau. Larry attended St. Joseph Grammar School and Haverhill Trade School, graduating with the class of 1963. He served in the Army National Guard from 1965 to 1971. He was proud to be a Firefighter with the Haverhill Fire Department, and a self-employed carpenter.
Larry was a member of All Saints Parish, Haverhill and Haverhill Firefighters IAFF Local 1011. He was an avid golfer and passionate about fishing. He enjoyed tying his own flies and preferred fishing for trout with his son and grandson on Father’s Day trips. He loved visiting Oklahoma City to share laughter with his daughter and family. He thoroughly enjoyed campfires and story-telling with friends.