The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 287 emergency incidents during the month of August including 31 box alarms and 256 still alarms.
The Department responded to nine mutual aid requests during August, three times to Melrose, twice to Saugus, twice to Lynnfield and once each to Stoneham and North Reading. The department received mutual aid one time during the month of August from Reading. A crew under the command of Acting Lieutenant Joseph Albert assisted the North Reading Fire Department at a large brush fire during the afternoon of August 21st. Lieutenant Thomas Purcell and his crew assisted at a working house fire at 846 Broadway in Saugus during the afternoon of August 30th. Wakefield Engine 2 also assisted Lynnfield with coverage on August 14th while they worked extensive brush fires in that town.
August was another hot month with relatively little rain. The department responded to several stubborn brush fires in the Breakhart Reservation/Hemlock Road area of town during the evenings of August 18th, 20th and 21st. The brush fire on August 18th was particularly labor intensive and required coverage from the Reading Fire Department.
Crews under the command of Captain Joseph Riley responded to a potentially serious stove fire at 19 Houston Street during the early evening of August 20th. There were no reported injuries during this accidental fire which was caused when the wrong burner was turned on a stove top. A thirteen year old girl in the home promptly called 911 when the fire was discovered, resulting in a quick response. Damage was limited to the stove, an overhead microwave unit and some nearby cabinets. Due to the rapid response and limited damage the family was able to continue living in the home.
Three new Wakefield Firefighters were sworn in on August 4, 2010. They are Daniel Hancock, Dean Marsinelli, and Kevin Wesley, all originally from Wakefield. All three men received two weeks of basic training at Wakefield Fire Headquarters before being assigned to their respective groups and all will be attending the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy in January of 2011. Wakefield Firefighter Jonathan Murphy returned home from active duty in Afghanistan and Kuwait during the month of August and rejoined his shift on August 27th. The department proudly welcomes Firefighter Murphy back and looks forward to the safe return of Wakefield Firefighter Richard Cardavelli in the spring of 2011.
The department conducted an annual pump test of all three of its fire pumping engines on August 19th. All three pumps successfully passed this important inspection. All fire department ground ladders also passed a rigorous inspection on August 20th. The 100 foot aerial ladder section for Ladder 1 was extensively tested and passed inspection on August 27th.
