As Calvi preps for retirement, Sarno taps Rivera to lead Springfield Fire Department

Retiring Springfield Fire Commissioner Bernard “BJ” Calvi stands with Deputy Chief Miguel “Mike” Rivera, who has been chosen to replace him.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen

SPRINGFIELD — It was a bittersweet moment for Mayor Domenic Sarno as he lauded Springfield Fire Commissioner Bernard “BJ” Calvi at a ceremony on June 7.

Sarno extolled the retiring commissioner’s accomplishments, dedication and constant advocacy for the firefighters under his command.

Sarno also announced Calvi’s successor, Miguel “Mike” Rivera, who has served with the department for nearly 18 years.

Calvi, whose last day is July 24, has been a paramedic for 38 years and first joined the Agawam Fire Department in 1995, rising up the ranks to become deputy chief in 2012. He made the transition to the Springfield Fire Department when the position of commissioner became available in 2018.

At the time, Sarno said people questioned the wisdom of bringing in a “small town” deputy chief to lead Springfield’s 276 firefighters, but he told the naysayers, “You’ll see.” Sarno recalled the myriad times that Calvi dropped everything to oversee a major fire or disaster in the city, even rushing out of the Bright Nights Ball to take command of a crisis while still in his tuxedo.

Sarno also thanked Calvi’s wife, Carrie Calvi, for the “partnership” it takes to be the family of the fire commissioner.

Calvi choked up several times during his remarks. He said working as Springfield’s fire commissioner has been “the hallmark job of my career,” and aside from his marriage, “the hallmark moment of my life.”

Among Calvi’s accomplishments is going the entire 2024 calendar year without a fire-related death in the city. He oversaw a restructuring of the emergency dispatch, created an opioid overdose response protocol by equipping first responders with naloxone, and creating a similar response for allergies with training in the use of epinephrine auto-injectors.

Calvi said the job of fire commissioner is “all encompassing.” He explained, “It’s 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If my phone rings, no matter where I am, I pick it up.” He said he has taken hours-long calls while on vacation. In a moment of levity, he recalled receiving a phone call about a lightning strike at Western New England University and being told there were “bodies in the building,” only to learn it was the medical lab and they were medical dummies.

In the time Calvi has been commissioner, he said several surrounding communities have seen three or four people rotate through equivalent roles. After doing the round-the-clock job for nearly nine years, he said, “It’s time.” He added, “I’m happy for all the work I’ve done. I’m happy for the impact I’ve made on the department and the community. And I will always be grateful for the experience I’ve had here and the support and leadership of Mayor Sarno, and that he gave me this great opportunity.”

Among those in the crows applauding Calvi were his counterpart in the Springfield Police Department, Superintendent Lawrence Akers, members of emergency medical service provider American Medical Response and state Rep. Carlos Gonzalez.

Sarno pivoted his remarks to announcing the fire commissioner’s successor.

“Today, I name Miguel ‘Mike’ Rivera as our fire commissioner,” the mayor announced, noting that Rivera is the first Latino fire commissioner and only the second Latino department head in the city’s history. Sarno said Rivera, a Springfield native and Putnam Vocational Technical Academy graduate, is a “shining example” of the talent produced by Springfield Public Schools and is “well-suited” to the role. He also said that promoting from within the department would provide a “smooth, seamless transition.” He also said, “We have probably — we do — the most diverse fire department. Our firefighters reflect our community.”

Congratulating Calvi, Rivera said he can rest assured that he is leaving the department in better condition than he found it.

Rivera thanked Sarno for supporting the Fire Department, emergency services and all first responders. “I also want to thank you for the confidence that you’ve entrusted in me with this opportunity to serve the city as the next fire commissioner. I’m truly honored and humbled,” Rivera said. He added, “No one reaches this moment alone,” and thanked the mentors and colleagues and family. His wife, Jacqueline Fernandez, son, Abram Rivera and mother, Rosa Ramos, watched from the audience.

Rivera said he is “deeply proud” to be the first Latino fire commissioner. “I hope every young person in our community sees this as proof that no matter where you come from, with hard work and integrity, with perseverance and a commitment to serving others, anything’s possible.”

Later, speaking about why he became a fire fighter, Rivera said, “Civil service has been my thing. I love helping people.” He said, “I’ll continue to build on everything [Calvi] brought to our department and keeping our people safe.” Rivera said he is most looking forward to teaching young firefighters, and said, “Hopefully, I can pass my baton to someone coming up under me.”