Firefighters help people and save lives every day, but they turn to Roger Baker when they need a few minutes of rest from doing their physically-demanding jobs.
Baker operates Rehab Five out of his home near Andover Street with assistance from volunteers who rush with him to an estimated 130 fires annually. Baker said he spent three weeks at the November 2006 scene of a neighborhood-leveling explosion in Danvers, providing a warm place to rest and hot drinks for firefighters.
Rehab Five rushed to a Wakefield church fire last October where Baker parked a school bus converted into a canteen truck equipped with hot chocolate, soup, water, Gatorade, hand warmers, gloves and socks.
Baker grew up off Stanley Road in Swampscott and started spending time at an early age at the Burrill Street fire station. His love for firefighting history and details of fire service operations prompted him to earn a degree in fire science from North Shore Community College.