Tuesday afternoon September 8, Acton formally inducted four new members to the Fire Department:
- Jean Michel DeAza – Firefighter/Paramedic
- Jeffrey Hytinen – Firefighter/EMT
- Clayton Gossett – Firefighter/Paramedic
- Justin Chaires – Firefighter/Paramedic.
At the Pinning Ceremony, which was held at Acton’s Fire Station 4 on Harris Street, each new firefighter was pinned with their badge. Acton Town Manager John Mangiaratti opened the ceremony. Fire Chief Anita Arnum and Deputy Fire Chief Chris Sammet made remarks.
Each new firefighter was proudly pinned by a relative or by the Acton Fire Chief Anita Arnum.
The Ceremony’s significance was highlighted by the attendance of Police Chief Douglas Sturniolo, Select Board Members Alissa Nicol and David Martin, plus numerous members of Acton’s Fire and Police departments, friends and relatives of the new firefighters, and members of the public.
In recent years, it has been difficult for Acton to keep up the levels of staffing in the Fire Department. Being short-staffed means that overtime is needed to fill each shift. In the past year, Chief Arnum has made significant progress filling vacancies in the Department, with only a small number of positions remaining open.
Last December, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed H.4168, a home rule petition approved by Acton voters in May 2025, as reported in the Acton Exchange. The law increases the residency limit for members of the Acton Police Department and Acton Fire Department, enabling the town to recruit from a greater radius than before.
David D. Martin is a member of Acton’s Select Board.
