By Aaron Beatty
Most of us living in Becket or Washington likely have a story to tell about the Becket Volunteer Fire Department (BVFD) coming to the rescue; they show up when you need them and they’ve been showing up now for 100 years.
Records dating back to the late 1800s show the appointment of Elmer D. Ballou as Forest Fire Warden, but it wasn’t until 1925 that a volunteer fire department was established and P.B. McCormick was named the first fire chief. Today, the BVFD provides fire and emergency services to Becket and neighboring Washington, making its coverage area of more than 85 square miles one of the largest in the state.
A total of twelve fire chiefs have been at the helm of the BVFD over the past 100 years, including current chief Paul A. Mikaniewicz. While much has changed in the world and in the department itself, an ethos of service to the community has remained constant.
This is evident when sitting down to talk with a handful of newer and long-serving BVFD members. While each has their own particular reasons for joining, there’s a common thread, captured well by newer member (and daughter of the current fire chief) Olivia Mikaniewicz: “I think you do actually have to care, and want to be dedicated to it, and want to do something for the community.”
For former chief and current member Mark Hanford, who has more than 50 years of service on the department, the centennial of the BVFD demonstrates the staying power of a small group of volunteers over time. “We have history, we have traditions, and we try to maintain them. And they were passed on by the chiefs before us, the deputies, and the officers,” he states.
Walking around the meeting room in the fire station in North Becket, the importance of tradition and history is palpable. Awards, plaques, photos, and memorabilia accumulated over the years line the walls and shelves—a reminder to honor the past as the department prepares for the future.
In fact, the BVFD is constantly training and learning, making sure they have both the equipment and the knowledge needed to serve the public. As for what keeps a hundred-year-old volunteer department running, the answer isn’t equipment, funding, or training alone—it’s relationships too. Hanford describes a mutual aid system with neighboring towns: “Any town can ask any other town for assistance within reason, and there’ll be no questions, and there’ll be no bill.” The same goes for Becket’s own highway and police departments: “If we have a house fire in the wintertime, water makes ice — we usually don’t even have to ask, a town truck shows up and starts sanding. And the police come . . . to take traffic over, help with car accidents, and things like that. They help out a lot.”
For Jessica Giarolo, an EMT and 14-year BVFD veteran, being on the department is more than an opportunity for volunteerism. “It becomes a way of life,” she said. “The fire department is not just about you being a firefighter—it touches your whole family.” She described years of late night or overnight calls: “My mom lived just a few houses down, so if I got a call in the middle of the night, she’d come watch my kids so I could go on the call. It takes a village,” she said.
An influx of younger firefighters in the past few years has breathed new life into the BVFD. Many of them are children or friends of current members. “I grew up with my dad on the fire department,” said Mikaniewicz.” He always wanted one of his kids to do it with him. I guess I just wanted to do something that would actually help people.” Olivia, Everett Massini, and Ivan Healey—all in their first two years on the department—described a recent surge in interest. “Seeing this room fill up from just like five chairs to almost 20 in the past year is pretty unique and cool,” Massini said. Healey called it “almost like a chain reaction… once one person joins, they’re like, oh, I know that person, this might be something I could do too.”
Jan Elovirta, a ten-year veteran of the BVFD notes that serving on the department is something almost anyone can do, “You’re badly needed, and if you don’t think you can do it, then you’re wrong in thinking that, because there’s something for everyone to do.” Others in the room echoed this sentiment: whatever your skills or ability, there is a place on the BVFD for anyone who wants to make a real difference in their community.
BVFD Chief Paul Mikaniewicz expressed his gratitude by saying, “The members are what make the fire department; they are dedicated individuals who make leading the department more rewarding. They are from Becket, Washington, and Lee, and sacrifice their time to answer the call. I can’t thank them enough for that. I also would like to thank the towns of Becket and Washington for their support.”
Throughout its history the BVFD and its affiliated association have organized and hosted community events—from square dancing and chicken barbecues to live music to beer gardens—to both raise money and bring folks together. This year, the Firefighter’s Association is marking the BVFD centennial with a Beer Garden on Saturday, August 15, from 5:30 to 11 p.m. at the North Becket Village Pavilion. Admission is $5 per person (kids under 12 free), with a raffle and food and drinks for sale, and live music from Mostly Blue featuring members of Wahconah Regional High School’s Blood Type: Blue and D-Rod (Derrick Rodgers’s band). Come out and celebrate and show your appreciation for the essential and indispensable BVFD.
Note: You can find a detailed account of the department’s history written by Madeline Elovirta in Becket Massachusetts: From Colonial Township to Modern Town 1765-2015 or on the town’s website: townofbecket.org/fire-department.
