February 2017

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 260 emergency incidents during the month of February including 35 box alarms and 225 still alarms.

The department responded to six requests for mutual aid during February, four times to Lynnfield and twice to Melrose. It received mutual aid eight times during the month of February, three times from Lynnfield and once each from Melrose, North Reading, Reading and Saugus. A crew from Engine 1 led by Acting Lieutenant Daniel Sullivan assisted the Lynnfield Fire Department during a structure fire in that community during the evening of February 23. Firefighters under the command of Lieutenant Michael Long assisted the Melrose fire department at the scene of a house fire at 75 Howard Street during the early morning of February 24.

Wakefield firefighters under the command of Captain Randy Hudson responded to a reported multiple car accident with trapped occupants during the morning of February 8. Icy conditions on route 95 resulted in the collision of approximately 55 vehicles including tanker trucks, flat tops and other commercial vehicles mixed in with passenger cars. Crews worked quickly to triage the injured while additional firefighters and ambulances were called to the scene. Firefighters from Lynnfield, North Reading, Reading, and Melrose assisted at the scene while Saugus firefighters covered headquarters. Ambulances and tow trucks from all over the area responded to assist at the scene. Incredibly, only eight people were injured and none of them seriously. Equally amazing was the fact that none of the trapped occupants required the use of any hydraulic rescue tools (Jaws of Life) to free them. The wrecked vehicles were towed to the Comverse Parking lot on Quannapowitt Parkway in order for the highway to be cleared as quickly as possible. Quick and efficient cooperation between firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians and tow truck operators prevented a very serious accident from turning into a potential tragedy. A Melrose fire engine was involved in an accident operating at a separate accident scene further north on Route 95 that occurred during this incident. Fortunately the Melrose firefighters on board the engine were not seriously injured.

Crews led by Captain Thomas Purcell responded to reports of smoke in the sixth floor hallway at the Colonial Point apartment building at 95 Audubon Road during the evening of February 27. Firefighters eventually traced the heavy smoke condition to burnt food in a unit in the east wing. The fire did not extend beyond the cooking materials but created a significant smoke condition throughout the sixth floor east wing corridor that firefighters quickly vented.

All department duty shifts reviewed standard operating procedures on incidents involving the rescue of downed firefighters. They also reviewed procedures for conducting firefighting operations in high-rise building and the use of fire department standpipes. All department members were recertified in Cardio-pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) during the month of February. The department accepted delivery in February of four new smoke ejectors partially funded by a 2016 grant for $6,460 from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. The fans were purchased with these funds combined with a local match from the town.

Incident Response Report

Fire Prevention Report