E. Bridgewater deputy fire chief killed in accident

(East Bridgewater Fire Department)

Deputy Chief Robert Fairburn served in the department for more than three decades.

By Stewart Bishop, Globe Correspondent

An East Bridgewater deputy fire chief was accidentally killed Wednesday morning at his Summer Street home when the car he was working on fell and crushed him, local police said.

Robert Fairburn, 53, a married father of three, had been at the department for more than 33 years and was a well-known figure in town government.

East Bridgewater Town Administrator George Samia worked with Fairburn for more than 18 years and remembered him as a gentle giant of a man who was mild-mannered and dedicated to helping those around him.

"He enjoyed what he did. It wasn't just a job to him. He was very community-oriented," Samia said. “He went above and beyond. It wasn't just a 9-to-5 for him."

The deputy chief since 1997, Fairburn also served on the town's Recreational Commission, Geographical Information Systems Committee, and Open Space Committee.

“I’ve worked with him for 25 years. He was very knowledgeable about anything he was working on,” said Town Clerk Marcia Weidenfeller. “He was just a really nice guy.”

Fire Chief Ryon T. Pratt issued a statement expressing his regret at the “sudden and tragic loss."

He also said that “the department appreciates the support of our brother and sister firefighters and emergency agencies that are supporting this department in this difficult time.”