Leader Of MA Corps of Fire Chaplains A 'Compassionate Presence'

NORTHAMPTON, MA — Massachusetts' first responders work tirelessly to protect and serve their communities. That’s why Patch and T-Mobile have teamed up to spotlight EMTs, firefighters and police officers who go the extra mile.

This submission comes from Christopher Desloge who nominated Bruce Arbour of Northampton.

If you know a hero who deserves recognition, we want to hear about them! Click here to nominate a first responder for a chance to be featured in our Heroes Who Serve series!

What is the hero’s name?

Bruce Arbour

How do you know the first responder?

Professional colleague

Tell us about the first responder and how they serve the community.

Bruce Arbour is the state’s leader of Massachusetts Corps of Fire Chaplains and retired pastor. Bruce has helped forge one of the nation's finest first-responding disaster chaplain programs throughout the state; he has also aided departments in Connecticut.

Bruce is Fire Chaplain for Amherst and Northampton as well as assistant harbormaster for Gloucester, Massachusetts, where he is first responder for maritime emergencies. Bruce’s consoling manner and deep experiences in mass casualty events and local emergencies have made a material aid and difference to both disaster victims and other first responder such as fire, police and EMS who witness and suffer from PTSD and vicarious trauma associated with disasters, car accidents, fires, building collapses, etc. Bruce also is a senior advisor to FEMA for the planning, development, and deployment of disaster chaplaincy in New England and the country.

What three words best describe the first responder?

Masterful, compassionate presence.

We’re fortunate in Massachusetts to have first responders like Bruce Arbour working tirelessly to keep us safe. If you know a local hero who deserves recognition, we want to hear about them! Click here to nominate a local hero to be featured on Patch.

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