Area Firefighter to Head Massachusetts Firefighting Academy

David Evans. (Courtesy photograph.)

David Evans, speaking at a 2016 conference. (Courtesy photograph.)

David Evans, West Newbury deputy fire chief and a Groveland firefighter, has been named the new director of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy.

Evans, who was also assistant principal of the Pentucket Regional High School for nearly a decade, will lead the division of the state Department of Fire Services in Stowe, state Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey said Thursday.

“David will be a great addition to the DFS management team and a leader for the dedicated academy staff,” Ostroskey said. “He comes with a unique skill set that matches the needs of the academy, having worked for 30 years in education and over a decade in the fire service.”

At Pentucket, Evans combined his love of education and public safety through the school’s Safety and Public Service Innovation Academy, a statement said. The program engages students in a sequence of courses and industry certifications that equips them to serve communities. Many have joined local fire departments and graduated from the Firefighting Academy.

Evans, who has worked in the fire marshal’s Special Operations Unit since 2016, has a bachelor’s in American history from Salem State College, a master’s in liberal studies from the University of New Hampshire and completed a school principal certification program at Northeastern University. He is also a certified firefighter I/II and has completed fire training in numerous areas.