The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 224 emergency incidents during the month of January 2008 including 43 Box Alarms and 181 Still Alarms. The department was kept quite busy during January handling the usual calls related to our cold weather, including numerous heating system problems, carbon monoxide alarm activations, and water problems related to frozen and burst pipes.
At 2:09 AM on the morning of January16th, Firefighters on Engine 1 and Ladder 1 under the direction of Captain Paul Pronco responded to a North Avenue parking lot for a motor vehicle fire. Upon arrival, firefighters found a 2003 Ford pick-up truck totally engulfed in flames. As they extinguished the fire they made the grim discovery of the body of a 49-year old Stoneham resident inside the vehicle. The appropriate law enforcement and fire investigation units were called to the scene and this incident remains under investigation.
The fire department responded to 4 mutual aid requests during January, including Melrose (2), and Lynnfield (2). The department did not receive mutual aid in January.
Fire Department activities during the month of January included:
- Review training on our Standard Operating Procedures for chimney fires.
- Review locations of new and existing streets
- All of the department’s self contained breathing apparatus was inspected, tested and serviced on January 2nd.
Wakefield Fire Captain John F. Brown, Jr. retired from the Wakefield Fire Department on January 10th, 2008 after serving the fire department for 35 years. Captain Brown was appointed a Provisional Firefighter on October 20, 1972; a Permanent Firefighter on November 21, 1972; promoted to Fire Lieutenant on August 23, 1979; and promoted to Fire Captain on June 2, 1983. At the time of his retirement, Captain Brown was the senior Captain in the fire department. We thank Captain Brown for his service and wish him a happy and healthy retirement.
Wakefield Firefighter Joseph Cardarelli was appointed a member of the Massachusetts – Metrofire – Hazardous Materials Response Team in January. We are pleased to once again have representation on this very valuable and important regional resource to the Town of Wakefield.
