Fire Chief Moving on to Another MA City

April 30 -- SANDWICH, MA -- Sandwich Fire Chief William Carrico II, who is credited with helping to expand the Sandwich Fire Department at a time when staffing did not meet emergency demands, is leaving his post next week to become the fire chief in Medfield.

Deputy Fire Chief John J. Burke will be appointed as the interim department head until the town begins its search for a new fire chief, according to Sandwich Town Manager George "Bud" Dunham. Carrico informed Dunham of his intention to resign on April 23, Dunham said. His last day is May 4, three days before Sandwich's annual town meeting.

"He's been an exceptional chief," he said. "The town, including myself, is really going to miss him."

Carrico began at the helm of the fire department four years ago and has been instrumental in helping the town reduce its emergency response times in the more underserved parts of Sandwich, said David Sampson, vice-chairman of the Sandwich Board of Selectmen.

"He's provided great leadership for the department," Sampson said.

Carrico helped to add 12 emergency response personnel, bringing the town's numbers up to the level required for 24-hour staffing. In 2016 Sandwich voters approved funding for a new public safety building and repairs to the East Sandwich fire station, but rejected a Proposition 2½ override that would have paid for firefighters to staff the East Sandwich facility. Carrico applied for a federal SAFER grant, which funded eight additional fire officials. The remaining four have since been funded through the town's budget.

The town is in the process of finishing renovations on the East Sandwich station, which should be open within the next few weeks.

During a Sandwich Community Television interview in February, Carrico said the number of medical calls in Sandwich increased 50 percent over the past 15 years. Fire calls are also up 41 percent, he said.

"This is woefully inadequate," he said previously.

Carrico did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday.

Susan James, chairwoman of the Sandwich Board of Selectmen, said she will miss his leadership qualities, but also his sense of humor.

Dunham said he had "the best sense of humor."

He is "just hysterical," Dunham said. "We wish he was staying."

Sampson said the town has "great confidence" in Burke, Carrico's temporary replacement.

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