The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 293 emergency incidents during the month of August including 46 box alarms and 247 still alarms.
The Department responded to two mutual aid requests during August, once to Reading and once to Stoneham. During August it received mutual aid six times, twice from Stoneham, twice from Lynnfield, once from Reading and once from Melrose. A Crew from Wakefield Engine 2 covered the Reading Fire Headquarters during the afternoon of August 3 while firefighters from that community were tied up with a natural gas leak in that town. Engine 2 also provided coverage to the town of Stoneham during the evening of August 13th.
Firefighters under the command of Captain Richard Smith and Lieutenant Kevin Carney extinguished a fire at 17 Gladstone Street during the evening of August 7. The fire started when an extension cord fell into an open container of gasoline while the homeowner was repairing a motorcycle in the garage. The resulting fire seriously burned the resident and caused considerable damage to the garage and exterior siding of the home. The entire home suffered significant smoke damage. One firefighter was slightly injured during this incident.
Captain Smith and Lieutenant Brian Purcell commanded another group of firefighters at a house fire at 7 Avon Court during the afternoon of August 22nd. This fire started on the front porch when sunlight reflecting through a closed porch window and a mirror on a table set combustibles on fire. The fire was primarily confined to the front porch however the entire home suffered considerable smoke damage. One firefighter was injured at this fire. The homeowners were not displaced as a result of the fire. A seven year old boy living next door was credited with discovering the fire and bringing it to his mother’s attention.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts experienced its first hurricane since 1991 during the weekend of August 27-28. The town implemented an emergency plan for the storm and responded to many incidents on downed power lines and trees. Blocked roads were quickly cleared by crews from the DPW and any power outages were efficiently dealt with by the Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light Department. The most serious incident occurred at 15 Minot Street when a house was crushed by a large pine tree during the height of the storm. Fortunately, there were no injuries to Wakefield citizens during the storm. Once again all town departments pulled together and handled a potentially dangerous emergency weather situation in a professional and efficient manner.
Ladder 1 visited the Kindercare Learning Center at 607 North Avenue on August 5th much to the delight of the children in attendance. The Department tested all of it ground ladders and fire engine pumps during the month of August. Ladder 1 also successfully passed an annual service test of its 100 foot aerial ladder.
