We responded to 256 emergency incidents during the month of April including 49 Box Alarms and 207 Still Alarms.
April continued to be an unusually dry month, resulting in several brush and grass fires including a secluded, and hence difficult to access, brush fire in Crystal Lake Park on April 18th. The high brush fire hazard also resulted in several mutual aid responses during the month.
The fire department responded to 9 mutual aid request during April, including Melrose (4), Reading (1), Lynnfield (2), Stoneham (1), and Saugus (1).
Training activities during April included:
- Review of “reverse lay” – hydrant and hose procedures
- Review of the operation of our rescue boats
- Review of master stream appliance operations
- An opportunity to tour the new Sunrise Assisted Living facility in Lynnfield, which is a first alarm response for Wakefield Fire
In accordance with a Federal mandate, all cities and towns are required to adopt and implement the National Incident Management System (NIMS) by September of 2006. Firefighters and Police Officers have been completing this training as part of their ongoing training program(s). On April 25th, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency provided a 3-hour NIMS 700 training class at the Public Safety Building that was designed for and attended by Public Works, Gas & Light Department, School and other municipal employees who may play a role in mitigating an emergency incident in Wakefield.
