The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 228 emergency incidents during the month of August 2008 including 27 Box Alarms and 201 Still Alarms.
The fire department responded to 7 mutual aid requests during August, including Melrose (4), Lynn (1), Lynnfield (1) and North Reading (1). The department received mutual aid 2 times in August from Stoneham and Reading.
Fire Department activities during the month of August included:
- The new (1981) Wakefield Auxiliary Fire Department Squad 1 was placed in service
- Fire Chief David Parr retired from the department effective August 1st after more than 30 years of dedicated service
- Captain Michael J. Sullivan was appointed Interim Fire Chief effective August 1st
- The department participated in the popular children’s fair “Common Ground” sponsored by the Wakefield Elks and Wakefield Police Department. The displayed the MetroFire regional fire safety house and Engine 2 and Ladder 1 on display as well.
The department responded to a structure fire at 2 A.M. on August 13th at 17 Albion Street, successfully containing a fire to the second floor front apartment and adjacent hallway. Adjoining properties on each side of the fire building were less than 5 feet away. The building suffered no significant structural damage although the remainder of the building suffered smoke and water damage. The rapid extinguishment of this fire was primarily due to the fact that the department was able to respond with two engines and a ladder truck, allowing for all of the necessary fire fighting tasks to be performed in an efficient and timely manner. One occupant received burns to his hand and was treated and released at a local hospital.
Engine 2, assigned to the Greenwood fire station, responded to the town of North Reading on August 23rd and covered their headquarters during a serious house fire in that community. Engine 2 also responded to a tragic pedestrian accident on Greenwood Street On August 25th that sadly took the life of a Melrose woman.
The department received a generous donation of $1,000 from Irving Gas/Blue Canoe for the replacement of fire fighting foam to be used during training and is once again grateful for the private support and assistance during these tough financial times.
