Fall River FD terminates firefighter accused of calling in false alarms

FALL RIVER — Kyle Cusick, the city firefighter charged with 15 counts of making false 911 calls, has been terminated from his position with the Fall River Fire Department.

According to a statement released by Fire Chief John Lynch, Cusick was issued a notice of termination on the afternoon of Jan. 25 for “calling several false alarms.” Lynch said that Cusick submitted his resignation on Friday.

“Given the seriousness of the allegations against him, however, the City will continue to pursue criminal charges against him for calling in false alarms,” Lynch wrote. “False alarms result in the unnecessary deployment of Fire Department personnel and apparatus, putting our firefighters at risk.”

Lynch also noted that false alarms also divert fire department resources and potentially delay responses to real emergencies, which can put the safety of city residents at risk.

Cusick, a three year veteran of the department, has been on leave from his role as a firefighter since January. Lynch said Friday that Cusick had been charged for the false alarms, which had taken place over the last year. Cusick is being investigated by the Fall River Police Department’s major crimes unit.

It wasn’t until the last week of 2018, when three fake fires were called in the span of a few days, that fire officials began to suspect Cusick. After the department traced where the calls were coming from, Lynch said he learned of Cusick’s involvement.

Though Cusick submitted his letter of resignation, Lynch said Monday that his whereabouts are currently unknown.

“It’s still unclear (where he is). He is able to contact the union president somehow,” he said.

Under Massachusetts law, anyone who reports false alarms for fire can be punished with a fine of $100 to $500 or imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for no more than a year.