I was on Fire Rescue from September of 1984 until I graduated in 1989.  I took a year off to get my Paramedic back in 1988.  Everyone knew me as "Higgins", Magnum PI's boss from TV!  We were a tight bunch!  It didn't matter what year you were, freshman or senior, we looked out for each other.  We trained hard!  Above all we were extremely loyal to St. Michael's College and the surrounding community.  Pappy [the founder of SMFR] instilled a sense of community in what we did.  We spent time with the Winooski Police and Fire Dept. members;  Colchester Center members as well as all the surrounding towns.  

It was the best (and fastest!) four years of my life!  I didn't want it to end.  I am still a paramedic after 25+ years and now I am a full-time Fire Chief in Massachusetts.  It doesn't get much better than this!  Lot's of hard work, but it was worth it!  And St. Mike's had a lot to do with it!

Let me know if can be of any help to anyone!
-Tim "Higgins" Morissey
Fire Chief, Sherborn Fire Rescue Department

On the morning of March 27th 2013 SMFR, CCVFC, Mallets Bay Fire, Colchester Rescue, and Winooski Fire responded to 125 7th Street for a reported structure fire in a mobile home. While en route units were updated that there was heavy black smoke billowing from underneath the trailer and a few minutes later that the fire started to spread into the living room. Engine 3 was first on scene with SMFR Engine 8 on scene a few minutes after. Then 1st Lieutenant Mike Bodreau '14 and Firefighter Amy McGann '15 assisted Firefighter Tarissa Starks with stretching the first hose line into the building where they were met with low visibility and high heat.

To alleviate the high heat and gain some visibility, a vertical vent was requested above the fire as the windows started to break from the heat, this was coordinated by CCVFC Lt. Tim Hackett, SMFR alumnus of '11. Shortly after the ventilation Bodreau, McGann, and Starks were able to successfully attack the fire before exiting when their low air alarms went off. Once the fire had been knocked down, Asst. Chief Erik Haversang '11 coordinated the overhaul operation inside of the building while Hackett kept a watchful eye on the exterior overhaul operations. 

On the morning of 1/23/13 Winchester Bay (SMFR, Colchester Center, Malletts Bay and Winnoski Fire Departments) was called to Motel 6 in Colchester for an activated fire alarm with a report of smoke in the building with sprinkler activation. Assistant Chief Erik Haversang, '11 and 4C3 Palmer went to the 3rd floor with the SMFR crew led by Lt. Mike Bodreau, ’14. The fire room was quickly located by the crews and upon entry, crews were met with a moderate smoke condition, sprinkler head activation, and a sharp cry for help. Haversang and Bodreau found the victim lying next to his smoldering bed, directly under the activated sprinkler with noticeable second degree burns on the left side of his body. Haversang and Bodreau quickly removed the victim out of the room and into the hallway were they were met by Lt. James McLaughlin, '10 and a hotel luggage cart. They used the cart to move the victim to the end of the hallway where they carried the him down 3 flights of stairs and requested Colchester Rescue to meet them at the bravo side exit.

The victim was placed under the care of the Colchester Rescue crew, including Paramedic Carter Neville, SMFR alumnus ’08. Carter treated the victim for second degree burns over 15 percent of his body and intubated the victim when they arrived at the hospital for treatment of the burns. Once the scene was under control and all residents were evacuated, an investigation was performed and it is believed the victim had fallen asleep smoking a cigarette in bed which caught the mattress and pillows on fire.