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North Andover Fire Department mourns sudden loss of ‘quiet hero’
Firefighter Jeffrey Deschenes had been with the North Andover Fire Department since 2012.
An active duty North Andover firefighter died this week after experiencing a medical emergency at home, North Andover Fire Chief John Weir and Deputy Chief Graham Rowe announced Friday.
Firefighter Jeffrey Deschenes began his career with the Lawrence Fire Department before joining North Andover’s force in 2012. In 2019, he became North Andover’s first EMS Coordinator, instituting a community EMS program, a community CPR program, and a car seat installation program. He also introduced new equipment, protocols, and technology to the department.
“Jeff Deschenes brought the North Andover Fire Department into the modern era of emergency medicine and treatment, and his life’s work undoubtedly saved and improved the lives of countless people,” Weir said in a statement, calling Deschenes a “quiet hero in our community and a true brother in the fire service.”
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Deschenes was named Firefighter of the Year by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 2019 for his work in the aftermath of the 2018 Merrimack Valley gas crisis and was the recipient of the American Red Cross Lifesaving Award.
“Jeff’s impact reached far beyond his firefighting duties, touching the lives of many in the Merrimack Valley and the region,” Rowe said. “He was always willing to lend a helping hand in any way possible, looking out for his fellow firefighters, friends, family and the community.”
Deschenes was 54. He is survived by his wife and two children.
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