The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 242 emergency incidents during the month of February including 40 box alarms and 202 still alarms.
The Department responded to four mutual aid requests during February, once each to Melrose, Lynn, Saugus and Reading. During February it received mutual aid twice from Lynnfield. Wakefield Engine 2 covered a Lynn Fire station during the morning of February 11 during a three alarm fire in that city. Lt. Robert Taggart led a crew responding to a structure fire at the Resco trash facility in Saugus during the early morning of February 14. Lieutenant Kevin Carney and a crew from Engine 2 assist the Reading Fire Department at a two-alarm fire at 133 West Street.
Department members spent the first half of February digging out fire hydrants buried by the large storm in January and several subsequent storms. The cold weather caused numerous calls for service for water related problems stemming from frozen pipes and ice dams. The snow pack has been gradually melting and hopefully will not cause many flooding related issues as we enter March.
All four duty shifts were re-certified in CPR and the use of semi-automatic defibrillators during the month of February. The American Red Cross made a presentation to each shift as part of their Community Partner outreach program. The Wakefield Fire Department was notified by the Department of Homeland Security that it will be the recipient of a 2010 Assistance to Firefighters Grant in the amount of $99,000.00. This grant will be used to purchase 36 new UHF portable radios and 9 new UHF mobile radios for the department’s vehicles. This grant is instrumental in assisting the department meet a federal regulation requiring that all public agency radio equipment be FCC Project 25 compliant or “narrow band” capable by the end of 2012.
