August 2015

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 347 emergency incidents during the month of August including 47 box alarms and 300 still alarms.

The department responded to two requests for mutual aid during August, both to Stoneham. It received mutual aid three times during August, twice from Stoneham and once from Melrose. A crew from Engine 2 led by Lieutenant Robert Taggart assisted the Stoneham Fire Department at a 2-alarm structure fire at 61 Main Street during the afternoon of August 4. Lieutenant Brian Purcell and a crew from Engine 2 covered Stoneham Fire Headquarters during an extensive brush fire in that community during the afternoon of August 10.

Wakefield firefighters under the command of Captain Paul Pronco responded to a reported dryer fire at 61 Spring Street during the morning of August 14. Firefighters arrived to find a heavy smoke condition in the home. The fire was quickly contained to the dryer and the occupants were able to remain in the home. Crews led by Captain Joseph Riley extinguished a stubborn dumpster fire next to the Clarion Inn at 595 North Avenue during the early morning hours of August 16. The fire was confined to the dumpster but a limited amount of smoke did extend into adjacent areas of the hotel. Firefighters under Captain Randy Hudson quickly controlled a potentially serious incident involving a faulty heating system at 52 Lake Street during the afternoon of August 29. The heating system for this 2-family residence malfunctioning creating a high heat condition throughout the structure. Firefighters managed to shut down the system and vent the home of excess heat averting a potentially serious fire from occurring. There were no injuries as a result of any of these incidents.

August was a hot, dry month and the resulting low moisture level in outside brush and vegetation resulted in numerous brush and mulch fires. A crew from Engine 1 under the command of Lieutenant Joseph Albert extinguished a brush fire on Water Street at the Saugus Line during the afternoon of August 3. Crews from the Saugus Fire department also responded and assisted with the extinguishment. A crew from Engine 1 led by Lieutenant John Walsh extinguished a stubborn brush fire in Breakhart Reservation behind Landrigan Field during the afternoon of August 31. The brush fire burned into the root system and had to be monitored for several days to ensure that it was completely extinguished. Firefighters from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Bureau of Forest Fire Control assisted in the extinguishment of this brush fire.

The department received placed into service 23 new sets of breathing apparatus it received as part of a Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighter’s Grant (AFG) totaling more than $190,000. The department’s air compressor was tested and passed air quality levels required for the generation of air being used inside self-contained breathing apparatus.

All department groups continue their annual inspections and surveys of businesses located in their assigned districts.

Incident Response Report

Fire Prevention Report