There's a new, blessed fire engine in town, and it's headed to the Ballardvale station. On Wednesday, Aug. 23, Engine 2 was blessed by Fr. Peter Gori of St. Augustine's church. Gori became a volunteer chaplain for the Fire Department earlier this summer, along with Reverend Jon Paul of the Free Christian Church.
"It's more the norm rather than the exception," said Fire Chief Michael Mansfield, referring to the blessing of fire trucks. "I'd been advocating for clergy to be involved with our organization for probably the last 10 years and finally we were able to get this to fruition. The impetus to bring in the chaplains was to have two people with the clergy have a better relationship with the men and women that are in the department.