FREE Choking Emergency Class hosted by Franklin Fire and the Franklin Health Department!

FREE Choking Emergency Class hosted by Franklin Fire and the Franklin Health Department!

This hands-on, one-hour educational class will teach participants how to recognize choking emergencies in adults, children, and infants, including how to perform back blows and abdominal/chest thrusts. No certification is provided.

Class Details:

Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2026

Time: 4:00–5:30 PM

Location: EOC Classroom, Franklin Fire Headquarters, 40 West Central Street, Franklin, MA

Sign-Up: https://tinyurl.com/ChokingClass

Please share the attached flyer on your social media pages, with your networks, or with anyone who may be interested. Helping us spread the word will allow more community members to learn these important, potentially life-saving skills!

Thank you for your continued support and help promoting community health and safety.

Franklin Fire Dept schedules Open House, Saturday, November 7, 2026

Sound The Alarm

Come join us for our Open House!

When: Saturday, November 7th from 10am-2pm
Where: Franklin Fire Headquarters 40 West Central St.

🧑‍🚒Meet your Franklin Firefighters
🚑Check out the equipment
🚒Touch-a-truck
🐾Meet Sparky

We can’t wait to see you there!

Shared from - https://www.instagram.com/p/DefclCqTIiW/

Sign up for the Next Stop The Bleed training scheduled for Oct 21

Please help us spread the word about our upcoming FREE STOP THE BLEED® community training!

This hands-on class will teach participants how to recognize life-threatening bleeding and use three simple, lifesaving techniques to help control severe bleeding before emergency responders arrive.

📅 Wednesday, October 21st

⏰ 4:00–5:30 PM

📍 EOC Classroom, Franklin Fire Headquarters

40 West Central St., Franklin, MA

This is a great opportunity for community members to gain practical skills that could help save a life.

👉 Sign up link: https://tinyurl.com/ClassSTB

Please share with your friends, family, coworkers, and community groups. 

Thank you for helping us promote this important FREE training!

Community Heroes Day celebrated at the Children's Museum with Free Entry Oct 7, 2026

THIS Wednesday, Oct 7, we’re celebrating the people who help keep our community safe — and museum admission is FREE all day!

🚒 Community Heroes Day — Wednesday, October 7, 9 am–2 pm

Join us for a special day of play, exploration and community connection.

🚓 Touch-a-Truck with Franklin Police & Fire Franklin Police Franklin Fire Department 

🦺 Hands-on safety programming

🎟️ FREE museum admission all day

Community Heroes Day is made possible with support from Dean Bank.

Franklin Fire Department Awarded $380,124 FEMA Grant to Support Specialized Rescue Training

TOWN OF FRANKLIN | 355 E. Central St, Franklin, MA 02038 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 24, 2026 Media Contact: Elizabeth Kalaijian Communications Director Town of Franklin (508) 553-4886 ekalaijian@franklinma.gov   Franklin Fire Department Awarded $380,124 FEMA Grant to Support Specialized Rescue Training FRANKLIN, Mass. — The Franklin Fire Department is pleased to announce it has been awarded $380,124 through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. The grant will fund a specialized training project focused on confined space rescue and heavy vehicle extrication. The training will provide Franklin firefighters with advanced skills to safely respond to specialized rescue incidents. The award includes $78,536 for needed rescue equipment, with the remaining funding supporting the training project. “This is a significant award for the Franklin Fire Department and an important investment in our firefighters and our ability to serve the Franklin community,” said Franklin Fire Chief Chuck Allen. “This funding will help ensure our department has the training and equipment needed to safely and effectively respond when residents need us most.” The Assistance to Firefighters Grant program provides funding to fire departments to enhance their ability to protect the health and safety of firefighters and the public. ### Visit the Town of Franklin website for news and community updates: News and Announcements —Stay informed and connected with the Town of Franklin— Town of Franklin | 355 E Central St, | Franklin, MA 02038 US

FREE Hands-Only CPR instructional class - Wednesday, September 30

FREE Hands-Only CPR instructional class on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, from 4:00–5:30 PM.

Participants will learn how to recognize cardiac arrest and act quickly and effectively by performing Hands-Only CPR. The class includes hands-on practice and provides important skills that could help save a life.

Location: EOC Classroom, Franklin Fire Headquarters
40 West Central Street, Franklin, MA

Please note: This class is for educational purposes only and participants will not receive CPR certification.

To sign up, please use the link below:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0945ACAF2EAAF9C25-65506759-handsonly

Franklin Fire Department's National Preparedness Month: Build an Emergency Kit

National Preparedness Month: Time to put your Emergency Kit together !!

Build an emergency kit with essentials like water, food, a flashlight, first-aid supplies, medications, and a way to charge your phone.

Every household has different needs, so be sure to include items specific to your family, children, pets, or medical needs.

Explore local and national preparedness resources for tips on what to include: 

https://www.ready.gov/kit

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/build-an-emergency-kit 

Town of Franklin

Shared from - https://www.facebook.com/share/1ENujenVZQ/ 

Franklin Fire Dept 25th Anniversary 9/11 Memorial Services (audio)

FM #1819 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1819 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Franklin Fire Dept 25th Anniversary 9/11 Memorial Services. Franklin Firefighters Local along Franklin Police Dept conducted the services at the headquarter fire station, downtown Franklin, September 11, 2026. 

Speakers in order

• Master of Ceremony - Josh Impey

• Chaplain Bob Poitras 

• State Representative Jeff Roy and State Senator Becca Rausch 

• Deputy Police Chief West, and Police Chief TJ Lynch 

• Fire Chief Charles Allen 

• Musical performances of the National Anthem, Amazing Grace, and Taps performed by Franklin High School students guided by Dianne Plouffe

The ceremony runs about 40 minutes. Let’s listen in

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1819-franklin-fire-25th-anniversary-9-11-memorial-svc-09-11-26/

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Link to photo album - https://photos.app.goo.gl/7vj3TE2SjyY9rf5LA

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach out. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Friday, September 11, 2026 ???

Friday, September 11

Trash and recycling collection will be delayed one day all week due to the holiday. Those normally on Thursday, are now scheduled for Friday , etc.

9:00am 25th Anniversary - 9/11 (Franklin Fire Department)

10:00am Knitting Group (Franklin Public Library)

1:00pm Thrifty Threads (Franklin Federated Church)

2:00pm A Silent Auction - Franklin Federated Church Fund Raiser

2:00pm Farmers Market (Franklin Town Common)

3:00pm Dom Debaggis - live music (Franklin Town Common)

8:00pm No Static: A Steely Dan Tribute Band (THE BLACK BOX)

For additional details on Library events -> https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events

For additional details on Senior Center events ->   

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10676/September-2026-Newsletter?bidId=

*** NO Town Meetings today ***

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Find the full Community event calendar https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication: https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Town meeting calendar is found https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx

The School district calendar is found https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar

Please join us for our 25th Anniversary 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony

We would like to invite our community to join us as we honor the memory of the lives lost on September 11, 2001, and recognize the courage and sacrifice of the first responders who answered the call.

📅 Friday, September 11th at 9:00 AM

📍 Franklin Fire Headquarters

40 West Central St., Franklin, MA 02038

Have you seen Franklin Fire Department's emergency preparedness tips for National Preparedness Month ??

September Is National Preparedness Month 

Throughout September, the Franklin Fire Department will share preparedness tips, helpful resources, and information from trusted local and national organizations to help you and your household be ready for emergencies.

Prepare today. Be ready tomorrow.

Learn more: https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/203/Emergency-Preparedness

Town of Franklin

Shared from - https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DrJgbTxCQ/

Franklin Fire Department Promotes Mike Berthiaume to Captain

TOWN OF FRANKLIN | 355 East Central St., Franklin, MA 02038 Franklin Fire Department Promotes Mike Berthiaume to Captain The Franklin Fire Department is pleased to announce the promotion of Mike Berthiaume to captain. Captain Berthiaume was promoted to captain in July 2026 and serves as captain of Group 3 at Station 2. Captain Berthiaume joined the Franklin Fire Department in May 2015 as a firefighter/paramedic. He was promoted to lieutenant in July 2023 and began serving as acting captain in October 2025 before being permanently promoted to captain in July 2026. Throughout his career with the Franklin Fire Department, Captain Berthiaume has served as a field training officer and assistant fire investigator. He is certified as a Fire Officer I/II, Incident Safety Officer and Hazardous Materials Operational Level Responder. Prior to joining the Franklin Fire Department, Captain Berthiaume served for two years as a firefighter/paramedic with the Town of Bourne. While serving in Bourne, he was awarded the Massachusetts State Medal of Valor in 2015 for his actions during an active shooter incident. He also served as a call lieutenant with the Amherst Fire Department. Captain Berthiaume holds a master’s degree in emergency services management from Columbia Southern University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to take on this role and for everyone who has supported me along the way,” said Captain Berthiaume. “I’m proud to continue serving the Franklin community alongside such a dedicated group of people.” The Franklin Fire Department congratulates Captain Berthiaume on his promotion and thanks him for his continued service and leadership within the department and the Franklin community. Visit the Town of Franklin website for news and community updates: News and Announcements —Stay informed and connected with the Town of Franklin— Town of Franklin | 355 E Central St, | Franklin, MA 02038 US