August 2025

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 409 emergency incidents during the month of August 2025 including 33 box alarms and 376 still alarms. The department responded to four requests for mutual aid during August, once each to Lynn, Reading, Saugus and Woburn. The department received mutual aid seven times during August, twice each from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and Stoneham, and once each from Reading and Stoneham. A crew from Engine 1 covered a vacant Woburn fire station during a 2-alarm fire in that city during the early morning of August 8, 2025. Wakefield Engine 2 covered Lynn’s Western Avenue station during a multiple alarm fire in that city during the evening of August 14. A crew from Engine 1 led by Lieutenant John Mercurio assisted the Reading Fire Department at the scene of a structure fire in that community on the evening of August 25. A crew from Engine 2 under the command of Lieutenant Joseph Albert assisted the Saugus Fire Department at the scene of a structure fire on Atherton Street during the afternoon of August 28.

The Metropolitan Boston area had very little rain during the month of August, resulting in
dangerously low moisture levels in ground vegetation in local wooded areas. These conditions triggered two fast moving brush fires during the afternoon of August 7. Crews under the command of Captain Paul Pronco were dispatched to a reported brush fire near Oakland Road and quickly discovered a rapidly spreading fire in the Crystal Woods section of town forest located between Oakland Road and West Park Drive. The fire extended for several acres before firefighters were able to bring it under control. Firefighters from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (MA DCR) were sent to assist local firefighters in controlling the fire. While this fire was being fought, the department started to receive reports of a second brush fire near the top of Hart’s Hill, not far from the top of Dillaway Street. Firefighters from Greenwood Engine 2 were dispatched to this second fire with a Melrose fire company assisting them at the scene. An area of approximately 1 acre burned before being contained. A Stoneham engine company covered Wakefield Fire Headquarters while these fires were being extinguished. Both brush fires burned into the deep ground litter and underground root systems, requiring both MA DCR and local firefighters to return to these fires on a daily basis for several weeks to extinguish hot spots and areas rekindled by windy conditions.

The department continues to support Wakefield Firefighter Marnie Sheeran during her
ongoing struggle with metastatic breast cancer. Marnie is a staunch advocate of cancer screening for firefighters, focusing on the importance of the early detection of occupational cancers. Marnie was interviewed several times by WBZ at Wakefield Fire Headquarters on July 1, where she continued to emphasize the importance of these screenings. Marnie’s efforts culminated in a week-long cancer screening held at Wakefield Fire Headquarters during the week of August 25. This screening, made available to department and area firefighters by the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts, was conducted by United Diagnostics. Cancer screening is critical to the early detection of occupational cancer and the department is grateful for Marnie’s devotion to calling attention to this vitally important matter.

Wakefield Firefighter Nathan Bleu resigned from the department effective July 21 to
pursue other interests. Nate was appointed to the department on February 27, 2014. Nate is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, serving from 2005 to 2009, including two combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Nate was a dedicated member of this department during the past eleven years and we wish him well in all that he strives for.

Department members participated in Emergency Medical Technician training classes as
part of their annual continuing education requirements during August. In service safety inspection of Wakefield businesses in town continued during August. All department members trained during August with the new rescue struts purchased under the 2025 State Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant. All of the department’s self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) were tested and calibrated during the month of August.

A crew from Engine 1 visited children participating in the Wakefield Police Department’s
RAD program held at the Walton School on August 21. Children attending the “Camp Q” summer camp program at the First Parish Congregational Church received a visit from firefighters on August 22.

Incident Response Report

Fire Prevention Report