On July 31st, after 32 years of faithful service to the Amesbury Fire Department, Firefighter Robert Picard retired. He has lived in Amesbury and worked locally since his youth.
    In days, long ago, Bob would fish for eels, sell them to fisherman and row vacationers to their boats in a dory for two cents a head. His wallet was full as a testament to his work ethic.
    He worked for Jack’s Auto, when there was a Jack’s Auto. He developed an encyclopedic knowledge of car parts and their part numbers that he can still rattle off with accuracy.
    He worked as an electrician. He worked on cars. He worked as a dock hand at Mackenzie’s Marina. He rebuilt many of the docks floating out there today after they were ruined in the Mother’s Day flood of 2006. Bob can fix just about anything.
Robert is a man of many names. He answers to “Bob”, “Bobbo”, “Bobbins”, “Roberto” and many others not to be mentioned in mixed company.
He overcame many obstacles. Bob worked through pain and discomfort related to a neck injury years ago. This kept him down for a while, but not out. He rarely called out sick, in fact only doing so when he was unable to perform the job. He spent one summer in a splint. While on his boat, he slid and broke his foot. Last year, he was dealt a significant blow. He battled and overcame Leukemia.
Throughout his tenure at the Fire Department, Bobbo always gave 100%. He was in great physical condition, kept up by walking several miles each week. He made many of the younger Firefighters take notice that a “Senior man” could work harder and longer than them on any Fireground.
He taught the new firefighters what was supposed to be done and he did so by example. He was a reliable Fireman that you knew could get the job done. He was always the first one dressed and ready to go. He was a mentor to new Firefighters and Fire Officers.
He was an essential part of the many successes the Amesbury Fire Department has been credited with in the past. He worked at loads of fires and countless medical aid calls. Bob has touched many lives in Amesbury and none more deeply than those he worked with day to day.
He has been and will always be a “Fireman’s Fireman.” He has been and will always be a great friend.

Nine year veteran Firefighter/Paramedic Erik Cole will be leaving the Amesbury Fire Department Friday June 4^{, 2010}.  Erik will be transferring to the Wakefield Fire Department. Erik attended the Massachusetts Fire Academy Class 146 in 2001 and received his Firefighter I/II certification.  After graduating Erik was assigned to Group 4 under retired Lieutenant Ron Welch. 

Erik’s first house fire with Amesbury fire was January 31, 2002 at 71 Middle Rd, a 1 alarm chimney fire with some minor extension to the main house.  Soon after that, early morning of February 9, 2002 Erik and fellow MFA 146 Classmate FF Brian Moran along with FF Bob Picard and Lt. Ron Welch responded mutual aid to Seabrook for a building fire at the Cimarron apartments on Batchelder Rd. Upon arrival they were assigned to check the top floor to make sure all occupants were out of the building. While entering the building, the crew noticed a woman yelling for help out of a window on the top floor. Lt. Ron Welch, FF Brian Moran and Erik entered the burning building to rescue the woman and found that her husband was also trapped in their top floor apartment. Both victims were rescued, treated for minor injuries and released with from the hospital. 

March 26, 2002 Erik was the first Paramedic on scene of a horrible domestic violence call on Green St. that erupted into a gun battle with a murder-suicide, between William Cotter and his estranged wife Dorothy Glunta-Cotter. October 24, 2003 Erik and fellow group four members were given a special citation for the assistance to the Amesbury police during the Collins St. Shoot-out with Police. 

In 2003 Erik was the Co-Chair person for the “Fill the boot” MDA drive for the Amesbury fire department raising over $10,000 for Muscular Dystrophy. 

On September 16, 2003 while working overtime on Group 1 Erik responded on Engine 1 to a house fire on Main St in Merrimac. Erik assisted Merrimac firefighters with a rescue of the male occupant that had been overcome by smoke, was unconscious and in respiratory arrest on the second floor. Erik and the Merrimac Firefighters worked feverishly on the victim’s front lawn to get the victim breathing again. Amesbury ALS responded and transported the victim to the hospital he was treated and released days later. In 2004, Erik became a plank owner in the new Amesbury Fire Fighters Honor Guard, known as the “The Red coats” or the “Canadian Mounties.” Through fundraising, uniform design and organization, Erik left an indelible mark on the Honor Guard. He served proudly in September 11th rememberence services, funeral services, Firefighters Sunday Parades and memorial dedications.  

Erik became the International Association of Firefighters local 1783 Treasurer in 2004 thorough 2009 and was also on the Contract negotiation team. In 2005 Erik was also appointed to the Amesbury Fire fighters Local 1783 Retirement Committee.

On May 26, 2004 Erik responding to the biggest fire of his short career in Amesbury. While driving Ladder 1 solo for the master box activation to 73 Main St group four members pulled up to find a heavy smoke condition inside Greenery Designs. The fire would go to seven alarms. 

In 2004, Erik attended the Massachusetts Fire Academy for basic and advanced fire investigation and was appointed to the fire investigation team in December 2007. 

In 2005 Erik was on the small group of fire fighters that came up with a new way to raise money for charitable events with the formation of the Amesbury Firefighters Chili Cook-off.  After five years the event has become an annual event in Amesbury every September and has raised aproximately $25,000 since it began.  

Erik has responded and worked at 27 confirmed structure fires over his 9 years at Amesbury Fire Department and has responded to hundreds of Medical Aid calls as a Paramedic, he has affected and saved numerous lives in and around the greater Amesbury area.

http://www.wickedlocal.com/amesbury/features/x1664781463/Mold-forces-Amesbury-firefighters-out-of-station

AMESBURY, Mass. -- Fire crews battled a three-alarm blaze at a house in Amesbury on Friday evening.

Flames ignited at the single-family home at 16 Pamela Lane after 5 p.m.

The residence is located in the Lake Gardner area of Amesbury and consists of two homes.

No one was home in one of the residencies, and one person was home sleeping at #16. He woke up when he smelled smoke, and escaped before the flames shot through the roof. He said he owned the house for just over two years, and has lost almost everything he owned.

No one was injured.

Fire crews knocked down the flames shortly after 6:30 p.m.