January 2015

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 355 emergency incidents during the month of January including 48 box alarms and 307 still alarms.

The department responded to five requests for mutual aid during January, twice to Lynnfield, twice to Melrose and once to Stoneham. It received mutual aid three times during January from Stoneham. Lieutenant David Shinney and a crew from Engine 2 assisted the Stoneham Fire department at the scene of a second-alarm fire at 612 Main Street on the morning of January 8. A crew under Lieutenant Robert Taggart cover Melrose Fire headquarters during the morning of January 19.

Wakefield firefighter Arthur Fennelly graduated from Class 222 of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy Recruit Training Program on January 16. Firefighter Fennelly completed a nine-week training program which included live fire training evolutions. This training, offered to the Commonwealth’s firefighters free of charge to the communities, is something that can’t be duplicated on a local level. The department wishes to Firefighter Fennelly a long and productive career in the fire service.

A winter storm struck the area on January 26-27, depositing at least 29 inches of snow on the town. The storm quickly turned into a blizzard, with high winds and heavy snowfall exceeding several inches an hour creating near white-out conditions. Governor Charles Baker declared a State of Emergency as well as a ban on all non-essential traffic on roadways throughout the state. The town instituted a parking ban on all streets until the morning of the 29th. Wakefield implemented its emergency plan as the DPW struggled to keep the streets passable. Employees from the fire, Police, DPW, Light and School Departments worked closely together to help ensure the safety of Wakefield’s citizens. There were very few power outages during the storm. Fire hydrants were dug out by Fire and DPW crews. There was no reported damage to any public facility and no one was injured as a result of the storm.

All four duty Groups received training in electrical safety sponsored by the Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light Department and NEPPA. Department members reviewed safety procedures for incidents involving downed wires, utility manholes and transformer equipment. The department is grateful to the WMGLD for sponsoring this training. All groups reviewed Standard Operating Guidelines for cold water rescue, cold weather precautions, and chimney fires during the month of January.

The department received delivery of three new cold water survival suits. The suits were placed on apparatus and replaced three older suits that were worn out. A new 2015 Ford Explorer all-wheel drive vehicle was placed into service as the new Chief’s car. The 1999 Chevy Tahoe was turned in and the 2002 Chevy Tahoe formerly used by the Fire Chief is now being used by the Fire Prevention Officer.

The Wakefield Auxiliary Fire Department will officially disband after many decades of service to the community as of January 1, 2015. Sadly, the role and mission of this group has diminished to the point over the last several years that it makes sense to discontinue its operation. I am personally grateful to each member of the Auxiliary for their hard work and dedication to the town during its long and distinguished existence

Incident Response Report

Fire Prevention Report