Press Release: 8/12/2026
Governor Healey Sends Second Crew of Wildland Firefighters to Help Battle Minnesota Fires
New 10-person crew will replace Massachusetts firefighters completing two-week deployment
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
8/11/2026
CARLISLE — Governor Maura Healey announced today that Massachusetts is sending a second crew of specially trained wildland firefighters to northern Minnesota to help fight ongoing fires in the region.
The 10-person crew includes firefighters from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife). They will replace the Massachusetts firefighters who recently completed a two-week deployment in Minnesota and join crews from across the United States and Canada responding to the fires. Two additional MassWildlife firefighters will also deploy to Minnesota to help staff an Iowa wildland engine crew responding to the fires.
“Massachusetts firefighters are stepping up once again to help communities facing dangerous wildfires,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We’re proud of the crew that just completed two weeks on the ground in Minnesota, and grateful to this new team for continuing that important work. Their skill and experience will make a real difference, and we wish them a safe deployment.”
“Our firefighters train for moments like this, and they never hesitate to step up when help is needed,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “By working alongside crews from across the country, they’re helping protect communities in Minnesota while gaining valuable experience they can bring back home to Massachusetts.”
Five large wildfires continue to burn across the Boundary Waters region of northern Minnesota, including the Bear Trap Fire, which extends into Ontario, Canada. Together, the July Lightning Fires span more than 65,000 acres and have drawn more than 750 personnel as part of a coordinated response.
Smoke from fires across the region has also periodically reached Massachusetts this summer, contributing to hazy skies and reduced air quality.
The Massachusetts team is a 10-person wildland suppression crew whose members meet federal wildland firefighting standards. During the approximately 14-day deployment, the crew may build fire breaks, secure fire perimeters, contain fires and protect structures. All members have completed federal wildland firefighting training and passed required physical fitness testing.
“Longer periods of drought and dry conditions are contributing to increased wildfire activity, making coordination across state and international borders more important than ever,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “As communities face greater wildfire risk, Massachusetts is committed to doing our part. Our crews have the training and expertise to support these response efforts, and the experience they gain in the field also strengthens our ability to respond to wildfires here at home.”
“As wildfire seasons become longer and more intense, the expertise of our wildland firefighters is more important than ever before,” said DCR Commissioner Nicole LaChapelle. “Our crews have answered the call time and time again to help communities facing extreme wildfire events, leading with extraordinary skill, professional ism, and commitment. These deployments provide valuable experience and opportunities to learn from other departments to strengthen our wildfire response. I’m incredibly proud of the way our fire crews represent the Commonwealth.”
“We are extremely grateful for the dedicated staff from DCR and MassWildlife who have stepped up to contribute their hard[earned skills to this important cause,” said DFG Commissioner Tom O’Shea. “As climate change brings more frequent, long-lasting drought and extreme heat, wildfire seasons are intensifying across North America. We are committed to continuing to stand by our partners across the region to protect the public, our forests and biodiversity.”
Massachusetts deploys firefighting resources through agreements with the U.S. Forest Service and the Northeastern Forest Fire Protection Commission. The state or province requesting assistance covers the costs of the deployment, including salaries, transportation, lodging and food.
Since 1985, DCR’s Bureau of Forest Fire Control and Forestry, in partnership with U.S. Forest Service and the Northeast Forest Fire Protection Commission, has been sending crews to fight fires across North America. In recent years Massachusetts firefighting personnel have been deployed to multiple wildfires, including fires in Montana, Idaho, California, Oregon, Arizona, as well as Canada. Last year, DCR and DFG sent a 20-person crew to Fairbanks, Alaska,, for a two-week deployment. In each case, Massachusetts firefighters are able to apply the unique skills they have learned in service at home and acquire new techniques and expertise they can bring back to address future fires.
In the fall of 2025, Chief Fire Warden Dave Celino and the DCR wildland firefighters received the Fire Marshall’s award at the 36th annual Firefighter of the Year awards in recognition of the experience, expertise and firefighting resources they contributed to the state’s efforts to combat the historic fires that burned 4,000 acres across Massachusetts during the 2024 wildfire season.
The responding Massachusetts firefighters are:
| Firefighter Name | Agency | Town of Residence |
|---|---|---|
| Benjamin Jennell | DCR | West Newbury |
| Robert Armstrong | DCR | Conway |
| Brian Everett | DCR | Sandwich |
| Brian Johnson | DCR | Ashburnham |
| Michael Luibil | DCR | Hubbardston |
| Tyler Desautels | DCR | Hudson |
| John Garofoli | MassWildlife | Marston Mills |
| Jacob Hemond | DCR | Tewksbury |
| Jesse Sutton | DCR | Sagamore Beach |
| Derick S. Valovcin | DCR | Holliston |
| Alex Entrup | MassWildlife | Cranston, RI |
| Dan Bove | MassWildlife | Ashland |
| Firefighter Name | Agency | Town of Residence |
|---|
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