December 2025

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 385 total emergency incidents during the month of December 2025, including 39 Box alarms and 346 still alarms. The Department responded mutual aid four times in December, twice each to Reading and Stoneham. Stoneham and Reading provided mutual aid coverage to Wakefield during December.

In the early evening hours of December 2, 2025 Wakefield Engine 2 responded mutual aid to the Town of Stoneham on their 2nd alarm fire at 40 Broadway Street. A crew under the command of Lieutenant Joe Albert assisted Stoneham crews with fire suppression efforts. Car 1 – Chief Purcell also responded to the fire in Stoneham.

On December 9 at approximately 9:20 p.m. Wakefield Engine 1 covered at the Town of Reading fire headquarters on their extended incident.

On December 26 Engine 2 responded mutual aid to cover at Stoneham fire headquarters on their incident involving an oven fire.

On December 27, at approximately 2:56 p.m., under the command of Lieutenant John Mercurio, Wakefield Engine 1 responded mutual aid to a 2nd alarm of fire in Reading at 417 Summer Street. Chief Purcell also responded. Companies were on scene for about an hour assisting Reading fire.

The month of December saw some freezing temperatures which resulted in the department responding to several calls for water damage. On December 6 crews responded to 95 Audubon Road for the ruptured sprinkler pipe. Crews shut down the sprinkler system to the entire 12 story high rise for a period until maintenance and contractors could respond. On December 14, Engine 2 responded to 8 Fellsmere Avenue for ruptured pipes while the homeowner was out of town. Gas, electric, and water were all turned off at the street and the home suffered substantial water damage. Ladder 1 responded to yet another pipe burst at 3 Rockland street as all utilities were again shut off at the street with the home suffering heavy water damage.

Companies responded to a serious natural gas incident at 11 A & B Fitch Court on December 7, 2025. The initial investigation, utilizing the departments multi-gas detection equipment, in Unit A revealed extremely high readings of natural gas on multiple levels of the occupancy. The home was evacuated and WMGLD responded to assist. Subsequently companies accessed the condo unit directly connected to the unit of origin and found even higher readings in Unit B. It was determined the heating system(s) in both units were the issue. The gas supply to the system(s) were shut down and tagged for immediate service while the home(s) were ventilated. Occupants were instructed to call for immediate service of the heating appliance(s).

At approximately 5:53 p.m., on the eve of December 30, 2025 fire alarm / dispatch received a call from a resident at 5 Willard Road stating that the bricks surrounding the fireplace in his home were extremely warm despite not having a fire in the fireplace for several days. Box 346 was transmitted dispatching Engine 1, Ladder 1, Engine 2, and Car 3 to the occupancy. The department found no active fire in the fireplace, the chimney flue, or any walls in the attic space, yet readings from the thermal imaging cameras exceed 600 degrees Fahrenheit on the exterior brick chimney of the home. Crews, under the command of Captain Randy Hudson, were finally able to locate a pocket of fire within a void space in the chimney that was extremely difficult to access. Several chemical pouches were discharged into the chimney and the department also utilized chimney chains to extinguish any fire. The home was checked for elevated levels of carbon monoxide using a multi-gas detector with negligible readings found. Once interior chimney temperatures decreased substantially the incident was declared under control and the occupant was advised to have the chimney service by a professional contractor. Stoneham Fire covered fire headquarters during the incident.

On December 31 the department received multiple calls for someone in distress on the ice in the area of Beebe’s Cove. Companies responded with Captain Brian Purcell reporting the individual was just trying to “attract attention”. The individual was escorted off the ice.

The month of December marked a historical period in the Wakefield Fire Department as new leadership changed over after a 17-year period. On December 12th , 2025, at 10:00 a.m. the department held a well attended promotional ceremony at the Americal Civic Center as Thomas M. Purcell III was officially sworn in as the new “Chief of Department” by Town Clerk Betsy Sheeran. Purcell is only the eighth firefighter to serve as Chief of the Wakefield Fire Department since 1899. Also sworn in during the ceremony were John Walsh as Deputy Fire Chief, Michael Long as Fire Captain, and Nolan Curran as Fire Lieutenant. Chief Purcell presided over the ceremony with assistance from Captain Sean Curran as well as new Town Administrator Dee Casey. Many family members, current, and former department members were on hand for the ceremony ushering in the new leadership team at the Wakefield Fire Department. The Department would like to thank the DPW building(s) department, WCAT, as well as fire department administrative assistant Pamela Cruciani for their assistance in supporting the ceremony.

During the month of December all four working Groups continued to train on yearly Emergency Medical Technician requirements. Ice / Water rescue training started for all members as it does each year in December. Each group also went through bail-out / self rescue training. The department trained on emergency scene – vehicle extrication utilizing the “jaws of life” rescue tools. The Department participated in this year’s Town Holiday Parade. The department also escorted Miss Merry Christmas to Santa’s trailer at the Common. The Department sent an Engine down to the Common on Sunday December 14 to participate in the annual, traditional Jewish “gelt drop”, and the lighting of the Menorah.

Incident Response Report

Fire Prevention Report