The heroic sacrifice of Lt. Jason Menard — who died early Wednesday morning after rescuing two of his fellow Worcester firefighters from a burning home — has inspired some people to join their local fire departments.
“It definitely motivated me to come in,” said Somerville resident Devon Courtney, 33, who visited the Somerville Fire Department on Saturday to learn about becoming a firefighter. “The heroism, the greater-good component, those are all things that played a big factor for me.”
Courtney was one of 20 New Englanders who showed up to the department’s open house as Chief Vincent Lampley and other Somerville firefighters gave tours of the station, detailed some of the challenges interested residents would have to overcome, and answered questions about the steps they would need to take in order to join the ranks.
“Knowing that Lt. Menard just passed away and people see that and it incites them to come and apply, that’s great,” Lampley said. “It feels good. It lets me know that people still care and want to do the job even though they know what the risk is.”