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Westport Fire Department
Our Mission
The mission of the Westport Fire Department is to protect life, property, and the environment from fire, medical emergencies, hazardous materials, natural disaster, and terrorist related incidents.
We will do this through emergency mitigation, code enforcement, public education, and training.
Our Team
The Westport Fire Department consists of 36 professionals serving under the leadership of Chief Dan Baldwin
CHIEF OFFICERS
Daniel K. Baldwin
Fire Chief | Paramedic | EMA Director
Chief Baldwin joined the department as a call firefighter in 1995 and was appointed a career member in 2004. Promoted to Lieutenant in 2011, Deputy Chief in 2018, and to Chief in 2024. He is an Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic. He holds a Master’s in Public Administration, specializing in Fire and Emergency Services. He holds various Pro-Board certifications, including Firefighter I/II, Fire Instructor I, Fire Officer I, Fire Officer II, Chief Officer III, Fire Prevention Officer (Basic), and Fire Prevention Officer I Credential. He is a graduate of the 2022-2023 Chief Fire Officer Management Training Program conducted in partnership with the UMass Boston Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management. In 2019, he received the Massachusetts Fire Chief Accreditation. He is trained in IS-700 NIMS, IS-800 NRF, ICS 100, ICS 200, ICS 300, and ICS 400. He was a former member of the department Honor Guard. Chief Baldwin was the First Firefighter to receive the Firefighter of the Year Award in 2007.
Department awards include: Achievement, Tiverton FD Commendation, 2 Meritorious Service Awards, Firefighter of the Year 2007, and 2 Life Saving awards.
Email: chiefbaldwin@westport-ma.gov
Mark A. Brisk
Deputy Fire Chief | Paramedic
Deputy Chief Brisk joined the department as a call firefighter in 2000 and was appointed to a career position in 2003, promoted to Lieutenant in 2018, Captain in 2022, and Deputy in 2024. Prior to his promotion to Deputy Chief, he was the head of the fire department’s busy Fire Prevention/Code Compliance Office from 2019 to 2024. He holds an associate's degree in fire science. He is charged with overseeing the day-to-day operations of the fire department. He is a certified Haz-Mat Technician, Fire Instructor I, Fire Officer I & II, and Fire Prevention Officer I Credential. He is also a member of the Fire Department Honor Guard and a member of the department Training Team.
Department awards include: Achievement. Commendations: Meritorious Service
Email: deputybrisk@westport-ma.gov
ADMINISTRATION
Haleigh Lowney
Administrative Assistant
Haleigh joined the department in 2021 and serves as the administrative assistant to the Chief’s Office. She holds an associate's degree in business management and a bachelor's degree in accounting.
Email: brownh@westport-ma.gov
CHAPLAIN
Kate Galop
Chaplain
Kate Galop serves as chaplain for the department and has been on the EMA team since 2018. She works to help organize and assist in all administrative areas
CAPTAINS & LIEUTENANTS
Bruce Martin
Fire Captain | Paramedic
Captain Martin began his fire service career as a Call firefighter with Dartmouth Fire District No.3 in 1985. He was appointed as a Career Firefighter in Westport in 1997. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 2006 and Captain in 2007. He currently serves as the Shift Commander for Group 2. He holds an Associate Degree in Fire Science and is a Certified Firefighter I/II, Fire Officer I, Fire Officer II, Fire Instructor I, Haz-Mat Technician, Rescue Diver and an Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic. Captain Martin is a member of the Department's Honor Guard & the Massachusetts State Hazardous Materials Response Team. Department awards include; Community Service, Achievement, Life Safety and Tiverton FD Commendation for Life Safety.
Email: captmartin@westport-ma.gov
Keith Nickelson
Fire Captain | Paramedic
Captain Nickelson is a second-generation firefighter who began as a call firefighter in 1994. He was appointed as a career member in 1999, became Lieutenant in 2018, and Captain in 2021. Captain Nickelson serves as a member of the department's Training Team. Captain Nickelson holds various certifications as well as a Master’s degree in Public Administration. He currently serves as the shift commander for Group 1.
Department awards include; Achievement, Education, Tiverton FD Commendation, and Life Saving.
Email: captnickelson@westport-ma.gov
Darren Nunes
Fire Lieutenant | Paramedic
Lieutenant Nunes joined the department as a call firefighter in 1997 and was appointed to a career position in 2000. In 2018 he was promoted to Lieutenant and is now the shift commander for Group 3. Lt Nunes is also a Nationally Registered Paramedic. Lt Nunes was instrumental in organizing and training the Department’s Honor Guard Unit, recognized as one of the finest FireDepartment Units in the area. He was selected as Firefighter of the Year in 2010.
He served in the United States Navy and is a veteran of the Persian Gulf War.
Department awards include; Achievement, Military Service Navy, Tiverton FD Commendation, Firefighter of the Year 2010, and 2 Life Saving Awards.
Robbie Greene
Fire Lieutenant | Paramedic
Lieutenant Greene joined the department as a career firefighter in 2016 and was promoted to Lieutenant in 2021. He started his fire service career as a firefighter with Dartmouth Fire DistrictNo. 3 in 2006. He currently serves as the Shift Commander of Group 4. He is a MassachusettsEMT-Paramedic and is certified as FF I/II, Fire Officer I/II, Fire Instructor I, FPO-Basic, and has an Associate degree in Fire Science. He is a member of the Department’sHonor Guard and the Bristol County Technical Rescue Team. He is a graduate of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy.
Anthony Ward
Fire Lieutenant | Paramedic
Lieutenant Ward joined the Fire Department as an on-call firefighter in 2000 and was appointed to a career position in March 2006 and to Lieutenant in 2024. He is a Pro-Board-certified graduate of the Massachusetts Fire Fighter Academy. He holds an Associate degree in Fire Science from Bristol Community College, a Bachelor's degree in Fire Science from Anna Maria College, and a Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science/Cardiac Rehab from Bridgewater State College. Firefighter Ward is a Technical Rescue Specialist and has been an active member of the Bristol County TechnicalRescue team since 2011. This team requires additional advanced training in multiple disciplines, with mutual aid deployments. He is also a trained USAR Medical Specialist. He is an instructor at the Department of Fire Services, Mass Fire Academy in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Firefighter Ward is a member of the department's Honor Guard and Training Division.
Department Awards: Achievement, Tiverton FD Commendation, and Life Saving.
CAREER FIREFIGHTERS
Glenn Nunes
Firefighter | EMS Officer | Paramedic
Firefighter Nunes joined the department as a call firefighter in 1994 and was appointed to a career position in 1997. He has served as the department’s Emergency Medical Services Officer since 2010.
Department award; Tiverton FD Commendation
Email: ffgnunes@westport-ma.gov
Matt Cowell
Firefighter | Paramedic
Firefighter Cowell is a second-generation firefighter who began as a call firefighter in 1990. He was appointed as a career member in 1999. He currently works on Group 4.
Paul Duhon
Firefighter | Paramedic
Firefighter Duhon joined the department as a call firefighter in 1997 and was appointed to a career position in 2003. Firefighter Duhon received the Chiefs Cross in 2008 for his work in preserving the history of the Westport Fire Department. Firefighter Duhon is a Registered Nurse and holds a bachelor’s degree in Fire Science & Nursing.
Department awards include; Achievement, Education, and the Chiefs Cross.
Andrew Ferrarini
Firefighter | Paramedic
Firefighter Ferrarini joined the department as a call firefighter in 2005 and was appointed to a career position in 2006, and is a member of the Fire Department Honor Guard. He is a graduate of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy.
Department award-Achievement.
Andrew Raymond
Firefighter | Paramedic
Firefighter Raymond joined the department as a call firefighter in 2005 and was appointed to a career position in 2009. Firefighter Raymond is also a Registered Nurse. He is a graduate of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy.
Department awards include; Achievement and 3 Life Saving Awards.
Robert Porawski
Firefighter | Paramedic
Firefighter Porawski is a second-generation firefighter. His father was a member of the Freetown Fire Department and his father-in-law is a retired Captain of the Westport Fire Department. He joined the department as a call firefighter in 2007 and was appointed to a career position in 2012. Firefighter Porawski is ProBoard certified in Fire Instructor I & II. He is also a Massachusetts-certified EMT Instructor/Coordinator, an American Heart Association ACLS, CPR and First Aid Instructor, and a Public Education Instructor by the Department of Fire Services. He plays an important role as a member of the Bristol County Critical Stress Debriefing team. He is the recipient of the 2009 Firefighter of the Year award, and in 2012 he received the Paramedic of the Year award from the Greater Fall River Emergency Medical Services Council. Firefighter Porawski currently serves as the Union President, for the Westport Permanent Firefighters Association. He is a graduate of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, Class of 2012.
Department awards include; Achievement, Firefighter of the Year 2009, and Life Saving.
Ann Marie Peckham
Firefighter | Paramedic
Firefighter Peckham joined the department as a career firefighter in 2015 after serving 8 years with the Somerset Fire Department. She oversees the department’s highly successful “WestportCares” program, which assists our town’s seniors in maintaining a safe, healthy, and independent lifestyle in the comfort of their homes. She was instrumental in starting the department’s first junior fire explorer program, where she currently serves as the post advisor. She is a graduate of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy.
She started her fire service career as a junior firefighter with Dartmouth Fire District No. 2
Christopher Caswell
Firefighter | Paramedic
Firefighter Caswell has served as a Call member since 2005 and was appointed to a career position in 2017. He holds Pro Board certifications for Firefighter I/II, Fire Instructor I, and Fire Officer I. He is a graduate of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy.
Michael Teixeira
Firefighter | Paramedic
Firefighter Teixeira joined the department as a call firefighter serving from 2005 to 2011, following his father as a second-generation firefighter for the Town. He was appointed as a Career Firefighter in 2016. He is a graduate of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy.
Isaiah B. Manley
Firefighter | Paramedic
Firefighter Manley is a fourth-generation firefighter. He joined the department as a Call firefighter in 2016 and was appointed to a career position in 2018. He holds Pro Board certifications in Fire Instructor I & Fire Officer I, as well as a Master's degree in Public Administration from Anna Maria College. He is a graduate of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy.
Department awards include; Achievement, Recipient of the Martin H. McNamara Award
Weston Thurston
Firefighter | Paramedic
Firefighter Thurston is a second-generation firefighter. His father was a Little Compton Volunteer firefighter for 15 years. Firefighter Thurston joined the department as a Call Firefighter in 2013 and was appointed to a career position in 2018. Before his appointment in 2018, he worked for Fall River Fire Department’s EMS Division as a paramedic on Medical Rescue 4. He is a graduate of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy.
Firefighter Thruston received his Eagle Scout Award in 2022.
Christopher Pritchard
Firefighter | Paramedic
Firefighter Pritchard has been a Call firefighter since 2017. He was appointed to a career position in July of 2019. He is a graduate of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy
Todd Nunes
Firefighter | Paramedic
Firefighter Nunes was appointed to a career position in 2020. He is a paramedic and a graduate of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy.
Matt Farias
Firefighter | Paramedic
Firefighter Farias was appointed to a career position in 2020. He is a paramedic and a graduate of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy.
Amy Doar
Firefighter | Paramedic
Firefighter Doar was appointed to a career position in 2021. She is a paramedic and a graduate ofthe Massachusetts Firefighting Academy.
Steven Tabares
Firefighter | Paramedic
Firefighter Tabares was appointed to a career position in 2021. He is a paramedic and a graduate of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy.
Ryan Silvia
Firefighter | Paramedic
Firefighter Silvia has been serving as a call firefighter since 2020 and was appointed to a career position in 2024. He got his start in the fire service in 2016 when he joined the Westport Fire Explorer post. He is a Nationally Registered Paramedic and a Massachusetts Call / Vol fire academy graduate.
CALL FIREFIGHTERS
Call firefighters provide additional EMS and firefighting support to the town during emergencies.
Lt. William Baraby
Call Firefighter | Fire Investigator
Lt. Baraby joined the department as a Call Firefighter in 1978 and was appointed to a career position in 1983. Retiring from the career department in 1999, he continues to serve as an arson investigator for the department.
Department awards include; Achievement and Education
Ron Vien
Call Firefighter | First Responder
Firefighter Vien has been serving as a Call member since 2002.
Todd Mackay
Call Firefighter | EMT
Firefighter MacKayhas been serving as a Call member since 2002.
Chad Vaillancourt
Call Firefighter | First Responder
Firefighter Vaillancourt, a second-generation firefighter, has been serving as a Call member since 2002.
Department awards include; Achievement and Tiverton FD Commendation
Cody Smeaton
Call Firefighter | First Responder
Firefighter Smeaton has been serving as a Call Firefighter since 2020. He currently holds a RedCard certification in wildland firefighting. In addition to his call firefighting duties here in Westport, he has worked on the Massachusetts Wildfire Out of State Crew to fight wildfires across the United States and Canada from 2019 to 2022. During the same years, he worked for the Massachusetts DCR Fire Control, District 3, out of Freetown. He is currently working for theU.S. ForestryService at Nine Mile Ranger District stationed in the Lolo National Forest in the state of Montana. He is a graduate of the Massachusetts Call/Vol Firefighter Academy.
Dylan Soares
Call Firefighter | First Responder
Firefighter Soares has been serving as a Call member since 2020. He is a graduate of the Massachusetts Call/Vol Firefighter Academy. Before becoming a Call firefighter, Firefighter Soares was a firefighter explorer in Westport at the start of 2016, then was promoted to Explorer Lieutenant in 2017 and the Explorer Captain in 2018
Justin Raulino
Call Firefighter | Paramedic
Firefighter Raulino joined the department in 2021 as a call firefighter/paramedic. He is also a full-time firefighter for the Somerset Fire Department.
Kirk Faria
Call Firefighter | EMT - Basic
Firefighter Faria joined the department as a call firefighter in 2019. He is also a member of Dartmouth Fire District 2.
Brody Pelletier
Call Firefighter | EMT - Basic
Firefighter Pelletier has been serving as a Call member since 2021. He is a graduate of the Massachusetts Career Firefighting Academy. He also has a bachelor's degree in political science and legal studies from Wheaton College. Firefighter Pelletier is currently studying to become a certified Paramedic.
Evan Willard
Call Firefighter | EMT - Basic
Firefighter Willard has been serving as a Call Firefighter since 2022. He is currently a full-time firefighter/EMT for the neighboring Town of Little Compton, R.I. He is a 2022 graduate of the Rhode Island Career Firefighting Academy.
EMA | Special Services
Roger Maynard
EMA | Special Services
Roger Maynard has been one of the primary coordinators for EMA since 2011; prior to that, Roger was an on-call firefighter from 1978. Roger’s skillset, direction, and passion for making a difference have helped to grow the team over the years and bring it where it is today.
Bryan Moniz
EMA | Special Services
Bryan Moniz serves on EMA as one of the primary coordinators and was an on-call firefighter for many years. Bryan brings vision, support, and passion for helping others and appreciates making a difference in the community and beyond. He has been with EMA since 2011.
Ken Nickelson
EMA | Special Services
Ken Nickelson is a retired firefighter who has not only served his community for years but upon retirement, Ken has continued to serve with the EMA team and strives to ensure that all our equipment is running effectively and efficiently.
Camden DeMedeiros
EMA | Special Services
Camden DeMedeiros became a part of the EMA team in September of 2018 while also involved in the Fire Explorer program and has used his skills and abilities to help enhance the EMA team over the last few years.
Ken Reilly
EMA | Special Services
Ken Reilly has been in the fire service for many years serving from 1979 to his retirement in 2019. Ken has been involved with EMA since 2019 and truly appreciates serving the community and making a difference.
Sue Maynard
EMA | Special Services
Sue Maynard became a part of the EMA team in 2018 and has been integral in many ways, especially by assisting those in need at structure fires and other various events.
Linda Nickelson
EMA | Special Services
Linda Nickelson has been a member of the EMA teamsince November 2017 and has been instrumental in ensuring the team’s effectiveness and all those who the team serves on the department and in the community.
Jonathan Correia
EMA | Special Services
Jonathan Correia joined EMA in 2018 while completing his last few years as a Westport Fire Explorer. He enjoys helping people and making a difference within the community and surrounding communities with his energy and time.
Ken Minglola
EMA | Special Services
Ken Minglola has just recently joined EMA and brings a lot of experience and ideas to the EMA team based on his past work and volunteer involvement with FEMA and other national organizations.
The Emergency Management Agency Division (EMA) helps support the community by setting up shelters, helping evacuate citizens during emergencies, and providing rehab support to firefighters during calls.
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