MA Department Losing Longtime Lieutenants

July 05 -- Firefighting and all the duties that go along with it will soon be a thing of the past for Hingham Fire Department lieutenants John Haley and Bill McIntyre.

Both men are retiring this month, with a combined 67 years of service to HFD and the community.

Haley retired July 2, and McIntyre is retiring July 10 following his last two-day, 24-hour shifts July 4 and 5.

McIntyre, a lifelong Hingham resident, is a fourth- generation Hingham firefighter. Haley, who grew up in Hingham and lived here until recently, followed in the footsteps of his grandfather -- a former Boston firefighter -- and his father, who like his son also served as a lieutenant with Hingham Fire Department -- retiring in the mid-1960s. Both Haley and McIntyre are Hingham High School graduates.

The two have many memories to share. "I basically grew up in fire stations," McIntyre said.

That's because his family has a long history with HFD. His great-grandfather William Rodney Hatch retired from HFD in 1948 followed by his grandfather, Bill Hatch; uncle Richard Hatch; and father, Michael McIntyre, after years of service to the department among them.

"June 1, 2018 marked 105 years of continuous service to HFD by our family," McIntyre said.

Haley recalls bringing his father lunch at Central Fire Station in Hingham Centre "through the back woods" when he was five years old and lived nearby. "I always wanted to be a firefighter," he recalled. "When I joined HFD fulltime in 1985 after starting out as a call firefighter two years earlier, there were still some people who knew my father."

McIntyre joined HFD in 1986, sometimes serving on the same shift as his father and/or uncle. "It has been and still is an honor and a privilege to work for the town," he said. "It's been great serving with everyone in the department."

A 'calling'

He referred to being a firefighter as "a calling, a brotherhood. We experience both the worst and best situations working collectively in the interest of public safety. It's both a difficult and fulfilling job because of that."

For Haley, serving as a firefighter gave him both a sense of honor and tradition as he carried on his own family's legacy.

"We've pretty much seen it all," Haley said. "There's a lot of good and also a lot of heartache in this job. The important thing is to have the support of family and other loved ones around you."

Firefighters really have two families -- "our own and the one here at HFD," McIntyre noted. "Without the support of my wife and family I couldn't have done this job for so many years."

Haley agrees. "It all comes back to family here and at home. A strong support system is needed to go through the years of missed special events and holidays until your family transitions to this change and it becomes part of your life," he said. "There's nothing like returning home after a tough day and being greeted with hugs from your kids."

A sense of humor despite the challenges is important, McIntyre said -- "to balance the emotions, especially when we are responding to calls where we know someone who is involved -- maybe a former schoolteacher or friend -- or even a family member."

Firefighters experience the horrible tragedy of witnessing people dying in car crashes, for example, in sharp contract to times when people are saved by CPR or when firefighters are able to assist with a childbirth in emergency situations.

PSTD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) has become an issue in the overall fire service field, according to McIntyre: "We grew up in a time when we didn't talk about such things. It's important to seek help when you need it.

"We witness all kinds of things -- from house fires to medical emergencies to weather events where a tree goes through someone's roof with no injuries but shock at the damage to the house," McIntyre said. "We receive all kinds of other calls, too, from a faucet that won't turn off to an occasional '911' call from an elder who just wants someone to talk to. Every run is different."

Compassion

Being prepared for the unexpected is key. "You can't wear your heart on your sleeve. You have to maintain a professional yet compassionate demeanor and stay cool, calm, and collected," McIntyre said.

Both their roles have changed over the years. They both started out as EMT's, working the ambulance for many years.

"The amount of calls HFD responds to has gone up dramatically due to the town's continuing growth and changes in the types of calls to which we respond.

"When we started out we didn't have to worry about Weapons of Mass Destruction or today's ever-growing drug problems," McIntyre said.

The department has undergone sweeping changes over the years. "We've gone from administering CPR to defibrillators coming into the picture," he continued. "Our fire trucks are now equipped with bulletproof vests and ballistic helmets, and we're involved with active shooter training. The world changed dramatically after 9/11."

Among Haley's and McIntyre's fondest remembrances is riding the "tailboard" of a fire engine.

Both men have served in many capacities, within HFD and the overall Hingham community as volunteers.

McIntyre was union president for 18 years. Haley was involved with the firemen's ball for a long time and both played key roles in the building of Hingham Rec's popular fitness room at Town Hall. Haley served as a Rec commissioner for 20 years and also coached youth basketball and softball teams. One year both men provided volunteer EMT services to youth football teams when their budgets were tight.

Seventh chief

New Fire Chief Steve Murphy is their seventh chief since they joined HFD. Others included Fletcher Patch, Acting Chief Robert Garvin, Richard Wehter, William Johnson, Mark Duff, and Robert Olsson.

Both men have done it all, from serving as dispatchers, spare firefighters, engine operations, ladder truck drivers, acting captains, and most recently as lieutenants.

"My hope is that in some way or form we have made a difference in people's lives," Haley said. "That's what brought us to this job and hopefully that's the way we are going out."

McIntyre assured him that is the case: "I know both of us are leaving this place [HFD] better than we found it through our contributions and sacrifices."

In retirement, McIntyre plans to spend more time with his wife, Priscilla, and to continue to have fun with his nine grandchildren. He also plans to work full-time in the construction field with Iaria Brothers, based in Hingham.

"I'm looking forward to not working nights, weekends, and holidays and to being home for special occasions," he said with a smile.

Haley looks forward to spending more time with his wife, Carol, and their grandchildren, working as a starter/ranger at South Shore Country Club, and to "golf, golf, and more golf!" he said.

Praise

Fire Chief Murphy praised McIntyre and Haley for their many contributions to the town in their HFD roles as well as outside of the department.

"Both were involved with various department functions and served in many different roles," he said. "Both have a lot of pride and care for this department and the Hingham community."

Following an extensive assessment process through the civil service, Chris Melanson was promoted to Haley's position and Marc McManus to McIntyre's. There will be a promotion ceremony in mid-July.

In the meantime Murphy has this to say: "The department wishes them well in their retirement and along with the town appreciates their service to the community."

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