The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 264 emergency incidents during the month of August including 33 box alarms and 231 still alarms.
The department responded to five mutual aid requests during August, three times to Melrose and once each to Reading and Saugus. It received mutual aid four times during August, twice from Melrose and once from Reading and Stoneham. Wakefield Engine 2 along with a crew under the command of Lieutenant Robert Taggart responded to a 2-alarm house fire at 40 Auburn Street in the City of Melrose during the evening of August 2. Wakefield Engine 2 covered a vacant fire station in the Town of reading during a working fire in that community on August 5. Crews from Engine 1 and Ladder 1 under the command of Captain Richard Smith responded to Breakhart Reservation along with the fire boat to assist the Saugus Fire Department in the search for and recovery of an adult male that drowned in one of the lakes in the reservation.
The Wakefield Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 25 Bartley Street during the afternoon of August 5. Fire crews under the command of Captain Paul Pronco extinguished a fire on the rear wall of the residence caused when smoking materials ignited some trash in this area. Fortunately, the fire was contained to the rear wall and porch of the home as well as a nearby parked car and no occupants were displaced as a result of the fire. Firefighters under the command of Captain Joseph Riley responded to a motor vehicle accident on Route 128 South at exit 42 during the early morning of August 16, where they extricated one of the vehicle operators using the Jaws of Life.
All four groups participated in emergency medical training towards their continuing education requirements for maintaining their certification as Emergency Medical Technicians. All department members had their self-contained breathing apparatus air masks fit-tested during the week of August 13 to insure they were the properly sized and maintained a good seal. The department’s three pumping engines were tested and successfully passed their annual pumping inspections on August 29.
The Wakefield Fire Department re-instated the position of Fire prevention officer as part of the fiscal year 2013 budget. Lieutenant Thomas Purcell was consequently promoted to Captain and assigned as the department’s new Fire prevention officer on August 22. Wakefield fire fighter Joseph Albert was promoted to Lieutenant on the same date to fill Captain Purcell’s former position. The department is in the process of hiring a replacement firefighter for Lieutenant Albert plus an additional firefighter to replace a pending retirement.
