February 2026
Issue #7
The Executive Board
President
Chief Patrick Purcell
Westborough Fire Department
Immediate Past President
Chief Michael Kelleher
Foxborough Fire Department
1st Vice President
Chief Brian F. Nardelli
Brockton Fire Department
Secretary/Treasurer
Chief Kevin P. Partridge, Ret.
2nd Vice President
Chief Christopher Norris
Easthampton Fire Department
Message from the Executive Board
On Thursday February 12, 2026 Governor Healy released Executive Order 651. The purpose of this Executive Order is to establish a Technical Advisory Group on Single Stair Multi Family Residential Buildings. This Executive Order is a follow up to legislation filed in both the House HB- 1542 and the Senate SB- 964 to establish single stairwell buildings up to six stories, removing a second means of egress in new construction for residential buildings up to six stories. The Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts cannot support any legislation that would reduce the safety of building occupants within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
FCAM understands the claims of a housing shortage and is honored to have a seat at the table under the Governors new Technical Advisory Group on single stairways. This by no means reduces our concerns of the safety of the residents within those buildings. The Governor has laid out parameters for a twenty-person board that includes representatives from the Fire Marshall, FCAM rep., Engineers, Abundant Housing and many others. This group will meet over the next year and return recommendations back to the Governor.
FCAM staunchly supports the safe environment that has been built into our codes over many years and through lessons of many tragedies. We do not take these codes lightly and are deeply concerned about the weakening of building and Fire codes that have been written to ward off death and destruction.
The current staffing for many Fire Departments throughout the Commonwealth are less than adequate and by reducing Fire Prevention Regulations, it will put many residents at risk. NFPA 1710 was written to set a standard for which Fire Departments could operate with adequate staffing. For many departments, this is not a reality and we as leaders in the fire service must stand up and push back against changes to our code, if we feel it will make our residents less safe. These codes that we live by are sometimes the only defense that we have against major disasters within our communities.
Many Fire Departments throughout the Commonwealth struggle to meet budget demands, especially competing with law enforcement, schools etc. Add to this the Socioeconomic climate in many of our cities and towns are less than ideal. The average staircase up to six stories costs on average $300,000 to build. This would be a major savings to a developer. At the same time as the developer saves, we are putting some of our most impoverished into unsafe buildings covered by Fire Departments that are understaffed. The idea behind all of this is to increase housing for those that are struggling to afford it. The answer is not to put the most vulnerable into unsafe conditions, just to check a box.
As we move into this new year and address these safety concerns, please understand that FCAM is looking forward to working with the Technical Advisory Group. We have many questions and at the current time find it difficult to find a path where single stairwells are an option.
Please update your contacts and begin to use the following emails for FCAM:President: president@fcam.org
secretary@fcam.org
board@fcam.org
Upcoming Meetings & Trainings
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General Membership Meeting - Tommy Doyle's Sidelines
March 11, 2026
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Tommy Doyle's Sidelines
FCAM General Membership Meeting Wednesday, March 11, 2026 (Note this is the 2nd week of the month, not the normal 3rd week.) 1000 hours Tommy Doyle’s Sidelines 235 East Ashland St. Brockton (more…)
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FCAM Board Meeting
April 7, 2026
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Arturo's Ristorante
FCAM Board Meeting Tuesday, April 7th, 2026 1000 hours Arturo’s Ristorante 54 E Main St, Westborough, MA 01581 (more…)
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FCAM General Membership Meeting - Auburn Elk's
April 15, 2026
9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Auburn Elk's
FCAM General Membership Meeting Wednesday, April 15th, 2026 1000 hours (0900 coffee with vendors) Auburn Elk’s 754 Southbridge St. Auburn (more…)
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FCAM Board Meeting
May 12, 2026
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
FCAM Board Meeting Tuesday, May 12th, 2026 1000 hours Location: TBD (more…)
Monthly Highlights
FCAM PDC Conference 2026
Upcoming Meetings
In Memoriam
Chief Warren Ide, Retired, New Bedford Fire Department
Retirement Well Wishes
Fire Chief Jeremy Bradshaw, Chilmark Fire Department
FCAM Welcomes
Fire Chief Christopher Cesati Haverhill Fire Department
Assistant Chief Brad Cronin, Avon Fire Department
Important Notes
FCAM/100 Club of Massachusetts, Celtics Raffle
Legislative Priorities 2025–2026
- All of the 6 Senate Bills and 2 House Bills regarding the creation of a Public Safety Building Authority have been reported out of Committee favorably. We have never had any of these Bills progress this far.
- There has been a lot of activity surrounding the Ambulance Reimbursement/Patients’ Rights Bills. We have had several meetings with both the House and Senate Sponsors and their staffs, and the national news had an interview with Senator Moore regarding his version of the Bill
- The Bristol County Legislative Clam Boil is scheduled for February 12th, and the Essex County Legislative Breakfast is scheduled for February 13th.
- CFSI is March 18th – 19th. Currently we have 57 Chiefs making the trip.
