 When he reports to Station One on July 25, 2011 Lieutenant Sean P. O'Brien will be doing so for the last time. After nearly 28 years of service to the Town of Hoosett, NH Lieutenant O'Brien will be retiring.
Sean O'Brien was sworn in as a call firefighter on October 17, 1983, but his interest in the fire service started at a much younger age. In the late 70's he attended junior firefighter classes at Lakes Region Fire School. He also attended weekly training sessions at the South Hooksett Station and rolled hose and cleaned equipment after fires until being sworn in as a call firefighter. March 31, 1986 Sean was appointed as a full time firefighter following in his fathers foot steps.
During his 28 years Sean has seen many changes. The South Hooksett station on Coaker Ave became station 2 and later razed after a new station was constructed on Legeneds Drive. The Village station became station 1 although to many it will always be the Village Station. Station one was replaced at the same site on Riverside Street and all but one piece of apparatus has been replaced. When Sean worked his first shifts, the full time firefighters worked 12 hour day shifts. In September 1989 the coverage went to 24 hours a day out of Station 2 and eventually, both stations. The department's emergency medical services transformed from a basic to advanced life support and today, operating its own ambulance.
Lieutenant O'Brien comes from a family where community service is part of life. Starting with his grandmother who was a teacher for 43 years. His father retired from the Hooksett Fire Department after 25 years as chief of department while his mother served on the ladies auxilary. Later his step-mother served with Hooksett Fire Department, town treasurer and budget committee. There has been a member of the O'Brien family in community service to the town of Hooksett since the 1930's.
 Lieutenant O'Brien is an instinctive firefighter coming from years of experience. He was part of the Hooksett Arson team during the arson spree of the mid 90's when dozens of fires were reported challenging Hooksett firefighters. He also served as union president for Hooksett Permanent Firefighters Association IAFF Local 3264.
He grew up in Hooksett and knows just about everyone in town. An avid hunter he has excellent knowledge of the wooded aeras in town. In fact during a large brush fire a few years ago, (over the fire dept radio) Forest Fire Warden Murray and Lt O'brien were directing firefighting forces to the fire location in the woods by giving directions from a hunter's tree stand. Most didn't know where that tree stand was, they do now.
When Lieutenant O'Brien hangs his turnout coat on July 25th, he will end 28 years of service to Hooksett citizens. His fire amd ems experience, knowledge of the town's geopraphy, politics, and her people are assets we at Hooksett Fire Rescue Department will sorely miss. Good luck in your retirement Lieutenant! |
