MassFireTrucks.com

"The town of Walpole Massachusetts layed of four Firefighters and closed the East Walpole fire house as of July 1st.
I live in East Walpole and can't believe they have done this. A property tax overide was passed and the town is going to build a multi million dollar library. I hope all the people who voted for this don't have an emergency. We are now back to one firehouse !!! I hope I don't have an emergency !!

HERE"S THE DEAL.....

The Walpole town administrator is a fire apparatus buff. He runs a web site called MASSFIRETRUCKS.com.
I am asking all you firemen and buffs to help us out here ! BOYCOTT his site and send him e-mails supporting the brothers who were layed off and the rest of the department. This guy is no friend of the firefighters and of the towns people.

If this scumbag shows up at your firehouse and wants to take pictures....Please tell him to take a hike !!!
His name is Mike Boynton and he walks with a cane.

Thanks
Retired Norwood Fireman Jim Flaherty "

My first reaction was to simply ignore it and move on. I have indeed received support from several folks, union and non-union alike, suggesting I do just that. One union official even sent an e-mail to his department welcoming me in to photo their new Engine. But that was before I knew who started this and before I saw who else had jumped on the band wagon without first hearing the so-called "other side" of the story. As for the original author, I know Jim and never would have seem something like this coming.

I have truly had a great deal of fun with this hobby over the past six years. And that is what these pictures have been, a hobby. I respect the role that firefighters have in the community, and I have been extremely appreciative of the efforts of every one of you who have helped with apparatus photos over that time. Many Locals and communities alike have used my photos for their web sites or other uses, and I have been thrilled to return the favor for helping me along the way. With this shut-down, all of that goes into the night as well.

Before Massfiretrucks.com came along, my photos were and even today still are featured by the dean of web site developers in this arena, John Galla. John has gone way above and beyond on his site to become one of if not the best around. I am eternally grateful to John for his help, and will understand if my photos are removed from his site to avoid the backlash and venom that was started with the post above. The same applies to all others who have posted my photos along the way.

As for my career, I am very proud of what I do and the accomplishments made in the various communities I have served, in one capacity or another, for twenty years. I love what I do and the community I serve, even though the financial conditions we are in today have created a strain on emotions and operations. Such is the case all over Massachusetts, and we are not unique. Layoffs in this climate, including firefighters, are also not unique. What is unique is a person in my position who takes, or used to take, fire truck pictures. When times are good, the welcome mat is out. When times change, I believe the phrase above was "take a hike." I simply will not tolerate that and can not put myself in that position. As I have said to a few folks in the last two days, no one takes any pleasure in layoffs. They serve to tear down what you have built up, and that is simply not positive. But in a climate as bad as this where expenses far outpace revenues, you are left with little alternatives. Over 40 positions, all held by good people, were cut as of July 1st in my community. But even with that said, we do not stop trying to find ways to reverse the trend and restore where we can. I would be happy to elaborate, but here is not the place.

For those who have become such great fans and supporters, I am truly sorry. For my loyal contributors, Andy, Tom, Chris, Michael, and many more, I am sorry. You have been fabulous. For all the Chiefs and firefighters who have used this site to develop run cards, search for apparatus ordering ideas and designs, or just to check out what is new in the neighborhood, again I am sorry. And to the parents and kids who have sent in many e-mails since '05, this is breaking my heart. There is one mom out there, and you know who you are, please e-mail me again and I will see what I can do for your son.

I also thank all of the apparatus dealers and sales staff who have been outstanding with pre-delivery photos. You have been most accommodating, and I remain at your service, as always foc.

My wife and family have put up with so many of these trips for six years, but she and they have never once complained because it they knew how much it made me happy. I thank you more than you can know.

Before I bring the curtain down on this, I want to relay just one story of many where I would dispute the assertion from above that yours truly is "no friend of the Towns people". A few years ago, I got a call late one day as I was heading out the door. It was from a resident who was frantic that the rising water in the creek next to his house was pouring into his basement. I went right out there in the rain, with my "cane", and met with him as he showed me that a blocked culvert under the road was the cause. Two department heads went out there as well at my request and assessed the situation. A project was then drawn up and that culvert was eventually repaired by Town staff thereby resolving the situation. The resident called me and thanked me and especially thanked the DPW for responding to his needs. To me, it is just part of our job, but I appreciated his call. I'll give you three guesses who that was, but the first two don't count. There's even more to that story, but I'll leave it alone. I am not perfect in what I do, but was I a "friend" or a "scumbag" then Jim?

As stated above, I am planning on shutting this down next week. There are some technical things that need to be done in advance. I did promise a few folks that I would keep an open mind about it going live again, but after seeing the posts from Ken, Jason, Ed and more, all folks who were once supportive, that will be a tall order. For the $2 sign-up fee at firepics.net, you will certainly get a sense of what I am referring to and the beating I am taking. Be sure you check out their posts under "Rants & Raves".

I will keep my e-mail link open for a short time for anyone with questions or suggestions. Again, this has been a great deal of fun (until now) and I will try to find something to occupy my suddenly plentiful amount of free time. I never gave it a thought that it would end this way. To all those I have met along the way, please stay in touch. You and what you do are appreciated!!