Seekonk Appoints First Female Officer in Fire Dept.

Sandra Lowery is appointed lieutenant during a ceremony at the Board of Selectmen meeting.

It was a historic moment in Seekonk Wednesday night when the Board of Selectmen appointed firefighter Sandra Lowery to the position of lieutenant. Lowery, who has been a firefighter/paramedic in Seekonk for nearly 11 years, became the department's first female officer. "This is a great moment for the fire department and Ms. Lowery, and I'm glad I'm part of it too," said Selectmen Gary Sagar, who is a retired Attleboro fire captain. Lowery's appointment follows last month's departure of Lt. Peter Burke, who left Seekonk to become deputy fire chief in Barnstable. She has an extensive resume, including last year's selection as Bristol County Paramedic of the Year. "We're very proud of her," said Fire Chief Alan Jack, who introduced Lowery at …

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Jonathan Friedman

3:30 pm on Friday, December 7, 2012

I exchanged emails with Selectman Gary Sagar about this subject and the article has been corrected. Thanks to those who pointed out the error and thanks to Gary Sagar for giving me the correct information. I apologize to Lt. Lowery and her family for the error. Congratulations on the promotion.   more ›

Fire Erupts in Seekonk

Compost, dirt and yard debris burn in a Monday afternoon fire.

A fire erupted Monday afternoon on a commercial property containing a compost pile off Old Fall River Road in Seekonk. The blaze started at about 12:30 p.m., Seekonk Fire Chief Alan Jack told Attleboro-Seekonk Patch. At one point, the fire reached 100 feet long and 15 feet high. By 3:15 p.m., the blaze was mostly under control. Jack said crews would be on the scene for several more hours to finish putting out the fire. Fire crews from Rehoboth, Berkley, Lakeville and Raynham assisted with the work. Firefighters from East Providence are taking care of other calls while local firefighters (including those who are normally supposed to be off-duty) attend to the scene off Old Fall River Road Jack said he did not know the cause of the fire. …

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Steve Hopkins

12:18 pm on Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Ooops! I was wrong! this photo just happened to look exactly like the compost area on Pond St where there was a fire a few wks ago.   more ›

Town Trying to Find Uses for Old Buildings

Seekonk owns a number of empty buildings that are not in use.

Seekonk is hoping to find uses for some of the old and unoccupied buildings that it currently owns, which include the old town hall on Route 44, the former school administration building on 69 School Street, and the County Street fire staton. While the Country Street fire station is being used by call firefighters as well as the by the Seekonk Fire Department for equipment repairs, the other two buildings are not in use in any way. The town has been continuing an effort to lease the old town hall to the Seaconke Wampanoag Tribe. However, continued issues with the building's asbestos and mold have not allowed a lease to be drawn up and while they were also interested in the School Street property, that building presented similar issues. “…

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Seekonk Firefighter Among 11 Arrested in Illegal Oxycodone Ring

Christopher Sloan, a Foxborough resident and Seekonk firefighter, was arrested following a Drug Enforcement Administration investigation.

Seekonk Gets Money for Fire Safety

Seekonk received a $4,665 grant from the state to fund the town’s SAFE program.

Seekonk recently received $4,665 from the state to continue the town’s Student Awareness of Fire Education (SAFE) rogram. The program, which has been in place in Massachusetts since 1995, provides funding to towns for the purpose of educating students about fire safety and how to react in emergency situations. Seekonk Fire Chief Alan Jack said the program has been very effective, and he is glad the state continues to fund it. He said he often hears from parents that their children remind them to check their homes’ smoke alarms or insist on setting up a meeting place in case of an emergency – all lessons taught to them by the firefighters who visited their schools. “They do get it, that’s for sure,” said Chief Jack of the students. While …

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Call Fire Fighters’ Letter Sparks Heated Debate

Career fire fighters take issue with the call fire fighters recruitment practices.

A letter sent by Lt. James Garrott asking former call firefighters if they were interested in returning to the call service sparked a complaint from the career firefighters union. The board of selectmen voted in January to dissolve the call fire department, but was not allowed to eliminate a union contract outright. Instead the board is waiting for the current contract to run out and move forward from there. However, selectmen decided not to recruit call firefighters and focus on hiring more career firefighters, even rejecting a $500 dollar grant for recruitment. Wednesday, the board swore in Jason Berube, a new full time firefighter. Adam Clement, of the Seekonk Fire Department took issue with the part of the letter that read former …

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Selectmen Reject Money To Recruit Call Firefighters

The board of selectmen rejected a $500 grant that would have gone to aid recruitment for call firefighters.

The Seekonk Board of Selectmen rejected a $500 grant that would have gone to aid in the recruitment of additional volunteer firefighters by a 3 to 2 vote, with only Selectmen John Whalen and Bob McClintock in favor of accepting the grant. “We want to work with the town and the fire chief (Alan Jack) to get an ad in the local newspaper and recruit some more firefighters,” said Lt. James Garrott, a volunteer firefighter. Garrot said he would have also considered advertising on the local television station Cable 9. The grant came from the Massachusetts Call/Volunteer Firefighters Association. Selectman Francis Cavaco expressed concern over the motivations behind the grant and why it was coming “all of a sudden.” Cavaco said he had talked to …

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VIDEO: Seekonk 9/11 Anniversary Ceremony Honors Fallen

State representatives, Seekonk police and fire chiefs and the Rev. John Amaral gave words of reverence at the Seekonk Public Safety Complex Thursday night.

Chairs filled with families spread out across the Public Safety Complex parking lot to honor those lost in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks during an anniversary ceremony Thursday night. A short parade walked by Aitken Elementary and Martin Elementary School students started the ceremony. A bagpiper crooned as he led the proceedings. A color guard composed of rescue personnel stood watch. Seekonk Police Chief Ronald Charron recited the "Policeman's Prayer." In turn, Fire Chief Alan Jack recited the "Fireman's Prayer." Senator James Timilty and Rep. Steven Howitt also made short speeches. Don Kinniburgh, a member of American Legion Post 311, reminded the public to honor police and  fire department personnel. The Rev. John Amaral, who serves …

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Foxboro Resident Hired as Seekonk Firefighter [VIDEO]

Selectmen approved the hire of Christopher Sloane as a probationary career fireman.

Selectmen unanimously approved Fire Chief Alan Jack's request to hire Christopher Sloane as a probationary career firefighter during Wednesday's meeting.  According to the chief, Sloane is a family man, educated in fire science, management and certified as a SCUBA diver. The Foxboro resident passed the fire academy's written test with one of the highest marks recorded, according to the chief. He also performed well on the physical agility test. "He's a team player and we feel confidently he will make a positive attribution to the department," Chief Jack said.  Town Clerk Jan Parker swore in Sloane during the meeting. His family was in attendance. 

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Seekonk Firefighters Ask Drivers to Fill Boots on Saturday

Volunteers stationed along Route 6 will ask for donations for the Muscular Dystrophy Association starting this Saturday.

The incident involving Scott Celikbas, the Seekonk Fire Department former union president who was charged with stealing money from last year's Fill the Boot drive, has not deterred firefighters from holding their annual event again this year. According to Adam Clement, current union president of the department, the philanthropic drive will be held this Saturday, Aug. 27, and again on Saturday, Sept. 3. Last year, firefighters stationed along Route 6 raised approximately $4,500 that was donated to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).  "One bad apple spoiled it for the bunch...but we're taking precautions," Clement said. "It's just a really good time for the guys...It's for a good cause." Some of the drivers are less than charitable. …

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