10/08/2026
**A message from Lieutenant/Paramedic Mike England**
“To My Community
Over the past week, my family and I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from firefighters, first responders, friends, family, and complete strangers across the country. The messages, phone calls, prayers, and words of encouragement have meant more to us than I could ever put into words. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
From my fellow firefighters and police officers to our town administration and the entire Londonderry community, the kindness shown to my family has been remarkable.
Londonderry isn’t just the town I work for. It’s my home. I grew up here, went to school here, and now I’m raising my own two children here, with a third on the way. There is something incredibly special about being able to serve the same community that helped raise you. Seeing that community come together for my family during one of the most difficult experiences of my life is something I will never forget.
I want to address the decision I made that day.
I believed there were still people inside that building. As a firefighter, a lieutenant, and most importantly, a father, the possibility that someone was still inside weighed heavily on me. I made the decision to go based on the information I had and the circumstances in front of me at that moment. My focus was on the possibility of reaching and protecting someone who might still need help.
People do not always realize that this job requires firefighters to make serious decisions in high-stress, real-world situations, often with very limited information and very little time to act. Interior fire responses carry real risks, but they also require decisive action when someone may be in danger. I made the decision I believed was necessary for the reasons I had in that moment, and I am at peace with having made it.
As with any serious incident, there will be an opportunity to review what happened, learn from it, and continue improving how we operate. I welcome that process and will take whatever lessons come from it seriously.
I take my responsibility as a lieutenant incredibly seriously. The men I work with aren’t just coworkers or friends. They’re my family. I want to be the kind of officer they can depend on, someone who leads by example, listens, holds himself accountable, and never stops trying to get better.
And that brings me to something I want people to understand about that day.
My crew had to watch their lieutenant on fire. They had to extinguish me, watch me stand up injured and burning while frantically patting me out. Then they had to turn around and get back into the fight. And that’s exactly what they did. We finished that fight together.
I cannot begin to express how proud I am of those men. In a moment that could have overwhelmed anyone, they did their jobs. They took care of me, they took care of each other, and they continued working to bring that fire under control.
I couldn’t be prouder to call them my family.
There will be plenty of time to examine what happened, review the decisions that were made, and identify what we can continue to improve. I welcome that process. Every incident offers an opportunity to learn, strengthen our preparation, and become better firefighters and leaders. I want to carry those lessons forward and continue growing in this profession.
Ultimately, I am incredibly grateful that no one was inside that building and that my injuries weren’t more severe.
But I also think it’s important that we remember something that can easily get lost in all the attention surrounding this incident.
There is a family whose life was turned upside down that day. They lost their home. They lost a place filled with memories, belongings, and pieces of their lives that cannot simply be replaced. What happened will stay with them long after the headlines and videos disappear.
While I’m recovering from surgery, that family is trying to recover from losing their home. They deserve our compassion, our support, and above all, our respect. I never want my experience to overshadow what they’ve been through.
Finally, to my wife and children, my family, my brothers and sisters in the fire service, my crew, and everyone who has supported us through this, thank you.
I love being a firefighter. I love being a lieutenant. I love the people I work alongside, and I love the community I’m fortunate enough to serve.
This experience has reminded me just how quickly life can change, how much we depend on one another, and how much responsibility comes with wearing this uniform.
I will continue taking this experience seriously, learning everything I can from it, and working to become the firefighter, leader, husband, and father that the people in my life deserve.
Thank you all, truly.
I’ll see you back on the truck.”
Lt. Michael England
Londonderry Fire Department
