Off-duty Hanscom firefighter jumps into action

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  An off-duty Hanscom firefighter entered a three-story apartment building in Concord, New Hampshire, March 29 in search of residents after noticing smoke billowing from behind the building.

Sean Ford, a 26-year veteran firefighter, was driving by in his vehicle shortly after 9 a.m. when he saw the smoke and knew it was something more than a chimney fire.

"There were three of us who saw the smoke at the same time and pulled over to offer help," Ford said, who noted one was an on-duty district fire chief who was passing by at the same time. "When we first arrived, there were two individuals trying to get to safety from a porch roof. One woman was yelling for help."

While one of the good Samaritans assisted those on the roof in getting down, Ford and the district chief entered the building to ensure everyone had evacuated.

"Several people were home at the time of the incident," he said. "We spent only a few minutes in the three-family building banging on doors and calling out for people. At the time, the fire was contained to the exterior of the building."

Once Ford was back outdoors, he assisted arriving fire crews with supply lines and other logistics.

"I've been doing this for 26 years and I just knew what needed to be done," he said. "My focus was on minimizing the loss of personal property once we knew everyone was out of the building and safe."

Concord Fire Chief Daniel Andrus, who didn't know Ford was a firefighter until being told by a local reporter, said the fire had moved quickly and was grateful for the quick action of Ford and the others.

"I appreciate his selfless and heroic actions," Andrus said by telephone. "He didn't seek any sort of recognition for what he had done; he just did what came natural to him as a member of the fire service."

Before arriving at Hanscom in 2000, Ford served nine years in the Air Force as an active duty firefighter.

Hanscom Fire Chief Robert E. Hildreth said he wasn't surprised after learning that one of Hanscom's firefighters stopped to help his community.

"Upon hearing the response provided by Mr. Ford, a truly professional firefighter, I was not surprised by his actions," Hildreth said. "This is the character of the firefighters we have at Hanscom Air Force Base."

While Ford doesn't think what he did was special, he's grateful he was able to offer his help.

"I pulled over and did what anyone would do, especially a career firefighter," he said.