Many of the city’s firefighters and their families came together last Friday night to honor the heroic actions of 13 of their own at a banquet held at the Elks Lodge.

“We are here tonight, for the second year, to present these awards,” said Rick Jordan, president of the Local 1032 firefighter’s union, “to some very brave firefighters.”

 Some wore pressed navy blue uniforms with the red Medford Fire Department patch on their shoulders, others relaxed in polo shirts and kakis. While veteran firefighters chatted with wives and kids, a few of the younger ones chatted happily. All were in jovial spirits.

The June 13 event began with the union handing out three $1,000 scholarships to students going into college. Eric Bradnese, nephew of Gerry and Sean Bradnese, will be putting his into an engineering education at Northeastern University. Thomas Carpenito, son of Mike Carpenito, plans to study psychology at Clark University this fall. And Robert Faggiano, nephew of Paul Faggiano, will attend Suffolk University for accounting and global finance.

“We wish all the best as you move forward with your education,” said Jordan. “And we hope you will achieve all of the goals that are most important in your lives.”

Lt. Robert Delafano and Firefighter Timothy Brennan were awarded the Medal of Valor — and Firefighter Daniel Cranitch, the Meritorious Service Medal — for their actions during a fire at 66A Paris St. this past March, where two women barely escaped with their lives.

“When we arrived on scene, there was heavy fire on the second floor,” said Delafano. “We were advancing the line, getting ready to go inside when the police officers started hollering to us that there were two women on the roof.”

Quickly Delafano called for a ladder truck and had his men to position it in a tight alleyway on the side of the burning multi-family unit.

“When we got the ladder over to where the two victims were, one was already on the ground,” he said. “At that point, I climbed up the ladder with Firefighter Brennan behind me and we guided the woman to the ground. It was a team effort. Any man or woman in the Fire Department could have done the same thing.”

“I’m getting too old for this,” the 25-year firefighter joked. “I do enjoy what I do; getting out of bed every day to help people.”

The Medal of Valor is bestowed upon those who go above and beyond the call of duty, exhibiting courage, decisiveness and presence — regardless of his or her own safety — in attempting to save a human life. To receive the Meritorious Service Medal, a firefighter must have performed a “notable act of distinction” in the line of duty.

Jordan described two other events where just those kinds of acts were performed. On the morning of July 29, 2007, a multi-vehicle accident had left two dead and several injured. Firefighters rushed to the scene, skillfully extracting three passengers from the broken vehicles. For this, medals were given to: Lt. Brian Cronin and firefighters Michael Carpenito, Michael Granara, Richard Wilson, Michael Endicott and Stephen Hughes.

Finally, on Dec. 2, 2007, several firefighters aided in an emergency roadside childbirth. When off-duty Firefighter William O’Brien called in for help, Engine 4 and an ambulance soon arrived on the scene.

With the help of paramedics, firefighters helped comfort the parents while the baby was delivered safely. Because of this event, medals were awarded to Lt. Gerald Bradnese and firefighters David Piscatelli, Tom Murray and William O’Brien.

Jordan said last year’s awards ceremony was the first held in Medford in nine years. Though he said this probably won’t be an annual event, it certainly has been well received.

On hand for the ceremony, City Councilor Paul Camuso offered his support to the department and the union.

“Congratulations for all the hard work you do,” Camuso told the crowd. “The entire City Council supports this union 100 percent. This city and its children would not be safe if it weren’t for you all.”

This article is from the Medford Transcript June 20, 2008

Medford - Medford - After a fire on Paris Street late last month hospitalized a woman who fell from the roof of the burning building, the firefighter’s union told officials that with additional staffing, they may have been able to rescue her.

“Staffing levels are a matter of public concern and we are here to bring this to your attention,” said Local #1032 President Rick Jordan. “Unfortunately, Engine 3 was not available that evening because it was out of service. God only knows what would have happened if they had been there and been able to do a little bit more.”

Jordan said Engine 3 resides at Salem Street, which was the closest station to the scene of the fire.

The two-alarm fire ripped through the second floor of a three-family house at 66 Paris St. on March 24 sent three residents to Mass. General Hospital.

At the time, Deputy Fire Chief Patrick Ripley said the blaze, which started shortly after 11 p.m., showed heavy smoke, but firefighters were able to confine the flames until a rescue could be made. He added the woman fell about 30 feet.

Jordan insisted the current number of personnel on any given shift is not enough to cover the city, especially if Engine 3 is out of service.

“We have a shift complement of 26 men per shift,” said Jordan. “If we fall below 26 men, Engine 3 is taken out of service. I’ve been on the job since ’38 and I’ve never seen manpower below what we have now.”

At present, the Fire Department’s $9 million budget only allows for a staff of 127. While the minimum number of firefighters per shift is now 23, it was 29 in 1982 when Fire Chief Frank A. Giliberti Jr. first came to the department.

“I’d like to have a 200-man department,” said Giliberti. “It’s all a matter of dollars and cents.”

Nearly 90 percent of the time, Engine 3 is out of service because there are almost always a few people on vacation. As to whether an additional engine would have made a big difference at Paris Street, Giliberti was doubtful.

“The ladder truck was right there,” said Giliberti. “That was a tough spot. When you pull up there and there are people on the roof, everything changes. And the guys did a hell of a job.”

City Councilor Paul Camuso said he would like to see the issue of manpower addressed.

“Unfortunately, it takes an incident like the Paris Street situation to bring this issue to the forefront,” said Camuso.

Meanwhile, City Councilor Robert Maiocco was concerned that any one area of the city should have preference over another.

“I don’t know why Salem Street is worse than West Medford or North Medford in terms of protection,” said Maiocco, who is all to familiar with the various deficits facing the city today. “The city is in the hole, but the mayor has to make decisions.”

Mayoral Aide Richard Lee said the city currently has made offers to three perspective firefighter candidates, pending their passing medical, psychological and abilities testing. Should they pass, Lee said the three will go onto the fire academy.

“I think there’s the ability to hire one or two more, depending on finances and retirements,” Lee said. “The money just isn’t there.”