By Bonnie Adams, Managing Editor
Northborough – Thanks to the generosity of a local couple, Northborough’s first responders now have a few more valuable resources to aid them on the job.
On Aug. 28, Kevin Mallett and his wife, Erla, met with Police Chief Mark Leahy and interim Fire Chief Richard Harris at the Northborough Fire Station to present them with checks for their respective departments.
Leahy said the funds will be used to purchase three defibrillators for the department. The department has just replaced the defibrillators that were near the end of their life spans in several cruisers, he noted. With the funds from the Malletts, the department will now be able to purchase the devices for detectives’ vehicles. Having a defibrillator in each car was important, he said, because often a member of the police force is the first to respond to a medical emergency.
Harris said that the fire department was able to purchase special monitors that can detect potentially dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in a building.
“When a firefighter responds [to an emergency], because carbon monoxide is odorless and invisible, he may not know if it’s a dangerous level or not,” he explained. “That can put his life at risk also very quickly. By having these monitors he can get out quickly and put on protective gear if needed before going back in.”
The department was also able to purchase a “blow hard,” which is a large battery operated fan used to blow smoke out of a building.
For their part, the Malletts deflected all praise for their contributions, saying they were “happy to have the opportunity to give back.”
“We have lived here since 1978 and raised our kids here,” Kevin Mallett said. “This town has been good to us. We’ve been fortunate and we believe in giving back to our community.”
Every year, he said, he and his wife decide on a local charitable initiative to help fund. In previous years, they have donated monies for the flag poles in front of the Vietnam memorial, funds for Northborough-Southborough Youth Lacrosse, and a defibrillator for Algonquin Regional High School as well as other items there.
“This is about them and the important work they do,” Mallett said, gesturing to the chiefs and other emergency personnel. “We’re just happy to help.”
“This is very special,” Harris said. “Not many towns have this kind of opportunity.”
“Make no mistake,” Leahy added. “This is a significant donation for our departments. It’s a big deal.”