Will Katcher
masslive.com
AUBURN, Mass. — Former coworkers of a 14-year veteran of Auburn Fire Rescue who died last week in a medical emergency are raising funds to support the man’s wife and three young children, the department said Monday.
Lt. Paul J. Wood worked as an EMT, paramedic and firefighter in communities across Worcester County for decades. He died off-duty at his home after suffering a medical emergency, Auburn Fire Rescue Chief Stephen Coleman said Friday.
Auburn Permanent Firefighters Local 4157, the firefighter’s union, announced Monday night that it had established a fund to assist Wood’s surviving family. He was married with three young daughters, fire officials said.
Checks for the Paul Wood Foundation could be mailed to the Auburn Fire Headquarters at 47 Auburn St. in Auburn, according to the union and fire department.
“Please keep the Wood family and our members in your thoughts. He will be deeply missed by all of his brothers and sisters here and in the central regions fire service,” the Auburn fire officials wrote in a Facebook post following their colleague’s death.
Wood worked for the department for 14 years and was promoted to lieutenant in July of 2020. For 11 years, he was an active member of the Massachusetts Fire District 7 Regional Dive Team, a district that encompasses 25 communities in southern Worcester County and serves a population of more than 414,000, according to the department.
A 20-year veteran of the Massachusetts fire service, Wood began his career as a call firefighter in Grafton, where he was assigned to Station 3 and was able to hone his general firefighting skills and experience, his bio on the town of Auburn’s website says.
His favorite quote during his career in public service was “rescue everyone and make it home safely.”
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