Town of Medway Spotlight | Chief Jeffrey Lynch, Medway Fire Department

jeffrey lynch

Firefighting is a noble profession. With just the sound of a siren, you know you are about to put your life on the line to make someone else’s better. This is a satisfaction that few get the pleasure of experiencing.

Meet Jeffrey Lynch, Chief of the Medway Fire Department. As a third generation firefighter, Chief Lynch inherited his love of firefighting from his grandfather and uncle and followed in their footsteps as a volunteer for the Stonebridge Fire Department when he was just 16 years old.  He worked his way up to Chief as a member of the Portsmouth Fire Department in the State of Rhode Island. He started his career in Medway as Chief in 2012.

1. What led you to being the Fire Chief of the Medway Fire Department?

As a third generation firefighter, I spent much of my childhood at the Stonebridge Fire Department in Tiverton, RI where my grandfather was Chief. When I became of working age, I began volunteering at the Stonebridge Fire Station in Tiverton, RI. I started my career as a community living aide for the State of Rhode Island and when I was not working there, I was a volunteer on the Exeter, RI and W. Greenwich Lake Mishnock Volunteer Fire Department. After a few years as a volunteer firefighter, I found an opportunity as a full-time firefighter/EMT with the Town of Portsmouth, RI. There, I worked up the ranks, firefighter/EMT, Lieutenant, Captain, Deputy Chief and then Chief. While working, I continued my schooling in Fire Science and earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Providence College. Since then I have continued my education and obtained an EMT cardiac license in Advanced Life Support Intervention. The fire service has been so good to me that I want to give back. It is every Chief’s hope that when he/she leaves a department it is in better shape than when he/she inherited it. For all the Chiefs I have worked for, that has been the case, and I hope that both Portsmouth and Medway operate a little bit safer and the staff are better trained and efficient than when I took over. I also hope that I have mentored the members who will take over when I retire and they will advance the department even further. I know in Portsmouth that was the case and I believe 200% that Medway will advance further with the leadership that will take over. 

2. How has firefighting changed over the years?

Firefighting has changed quite a bit since I joined the fire service in 1976.  This first example is the apparatus. The first fire truck I ever rode on did not have a roof.  The second example is how we are referenced. In the past we were referred as firemen, now we are referred to as firefighters. The third example is when the energy crisis hit. Houses were constructed to be more efficient causing limited air flow into and out of the home. In the past, in the instance of a fire in an unoccupied house, smoke could easily escape making detection quicker. Now, if there’s a fire in an unoccupied house, a lot of times the fire goes undetected and will consume most of the oxygen in the building causing it to smolder. These smoldering fires produce tremendous heat and when oxygen is introduced, there is potential for explosion. Building construction today is lightweight, bring fire into the equation and it will fail in under 5 minutes causing floor and roof collapses. Another differentiator is the materials used to make products; in the past, most items were made of wood and wool. Today, everything is made of plastic and foam, ultimately generating great heat and producing thick black smoke when burning. In regards to technology, huge strides have been made. Every Firefighter now has a portable radio which is integrated with the air packs making communications better. In my opinion, the most important technology improvement has been the invention of thermal imaging.Before thermal imaging, in big fires, you could barely see a hand in front of you. With thermal imaging, you can now see through the smoke and find people and pets hidden in fire. Federal and state grants have also made a big difference in town’s ability to purchase equipment. In the case of Medway, we were able to add 4 additional Firefighters to the department. Lastly, the addition of Advanced Life Support has been a game changer as well. When I first started as a volunteer, ALS was not available for small departments. If a person stopped breathing or was in cardiac arrest, all we could do was our best with CPR. Unfortunately, without the intervention of drugs and electrical therapy, we weren’t very successful. In the short time the Medway Fire Department has provided ALS with our own personnel, our success rate for viable cardiac arrest patients has increased!

3. Can you talk about a fire that stands out in your memory?

I could talk about a bunch of fires that stand out in my memory. Probably the one most relevant to Medway was the Saddle Row riding ring fire on Oakland Street. One of our Lieutenant’s was first to the scene, upon arrival he immediately called for additional resources from area towns. When I arrived, the riding arena was fully involved in fire and the wood on the stable, with over 30 horses inside, was off-gassing from the immense heat and ready to erupt in flames at any moment. Despite the tremendous heat, my guys stretched a hose between the fire and stable and cooled the siding. This move kept the stable from igniting and ultimately saved all the horses. It took all night to get the fire out. Medway Fire Department along with our mutual aid partners did an awesome job keeping the fire from spreading further and saving ALL the horses.

4. What do you love about working for the Town of Medway?

The community itself. The Town support for the Fire Department is exceptional. Town leaders recognize the importance of resources towards public safety. The Fire Department works well with other town departments such as the Medway Police Department. All the police officers are trained to a first responder level and respond to most of our calls. Naturally, the personnel under my command are exceptional at what they do. The residents and business professionals alike are engaged in and appreciative of what we do here as well.

5. How has the department staff changed and describe the training your Department is involved in?

In recent years the makeup of the Medway Fire Department has changed. When I started in Medway 6 ½ years ago, we had 2- full-time Firefighter/EMTs on duty from 7 AM to 7 PM. From 7 PM to 7 AM calls were handled by some very dedicated call personnel. Since then, the amount of calls the department handles has increased yearly by about 13% a year. In 2018, the department handled just under 2,000 emergency calls for service. We also handled 858 service calls such as inspections, fire alarm repairs, and other fire prevention activities. We now have 4 Firefighter/EMTs on duty 24/7. In addition to our Call Deputy Chief, we now have a full time Deputy Chief who handles most of the training and fire prevention activities. The duty crews train daily and monthly training is required for the entire department. We have a training room on the second floor of Station 1 and often host Massachusetts Fire Academy trainings there for members of fire departments throughout the State including Medway. We also take advantage of acquired buildings to create smoky environments that include unfamiliar layouts, to make training more realistic.

6. What is your favorite thing to do outside of work?

I thoroughly enjoy spending time with my grandchildren, Dakota, Jacob and Hunter. They get me in a lot of trouble! I also cherish the time I get to spend with my wife, Kelley and our two children, Bradford and Brittany. Kelley is an active volunteer for the Medway Public Library and I have a personal passion for football. I’ve spent the past 23 years coaching various football programs. I started coaching my son’s youth sports in Tiverton and now coach grade 7 & 8 football programs here in Medway.

7. Favorite place to travel?

My family and I enjoy New Hampshire! We love all that the White Mountains and Lake Winnipesaukee have to offer; hiking, swimming and boating.

More about Chief Lynch

One of my favorite hobbies is being an amateur radio operator. I have a license in ham radio operations for world-wide communications which includes; voice, morse code, and digital T.V. Amateur Radio Operators in the local community and surrounding areas and abroad can tune in any time of day and have conversations about any topic. Amateur radio operators often provide emergency communications for a wide variety of public service events. For example, amateur radio was used during Hurricane Katrina when there was no other form of communication due to the disastrous conditions left in that city from the hurricane. Firemen risk their lives to make sure someone else’s is better.

Firefighters save more than homes; they save memories and dreams. Thank you Chief Jeffrey Lynch for your service to our community.