January 2026

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 472 total calls for service during a busy first month of the new year January 2026, including 40 Box alarms and 432 still alarms. The Department responded mutual aid eight times in January, three times to Stoneham, twice to Reading, once to North Reading, Saugus and the City of Melrose. The Department received mutual aid in January once from Stoneham and on two occasions from the Town of Reading.

In the early evening hours on New Year’s Day 2026 fire alarm dispatch received a call from Police reporting a house fire at 12 Montclare Avenue. Box 3173 was transmitted. On arrival Engine 2 had smoke showing from the basement of the 2.5 story home. The homeowner notified Lieutenant Nolan Curran of a confirmed fire in the basement. Engine 2 company stretched a 1 ¾ line and was met with heavy smoke and fire conditions in the rear section of the basement – visibility was poor. Engine 1 made a nearby hydrant, stretched a handline to floor #1, and conducted a primary search of floors #1 & #2. Ladder 1 set up the aerial for roof operations and was given orders to check all floors for fire extension, simultaneously horizontally ventilating each floor. Stoneham Fire arrived on scene and was assigned RIT. Companies were able to lead the family dog out of the home safely. Chief Purcell responded to the scene to assist Captain Hudson. Engine 2 was able to knock the heavy fire down and contain it to the basement. Extensive overhaul was conducted and the fire was declared under control. The homeowner was transported to the hospital with burns to his arms and hands and later released. Fire investigation determined the area of origin to be a wood burning stove in the basement. The home was secured, determined to be uninhabitable, and companies returned to fire headquarters to relieve the covering mutual aid departments.

On January 2 at approximately 12:45 p.m., Lieutenant John Mercurio and Wakefield Engine 2 responded mutual aid to Stoneham to cover on their extended incident.

On January 4, 2026 the Department, under the command of Captain Brian Purcell, responded to 4 Railroad Avenue for the occupants trapped in an elevator. Power was shut-down and all occupants were removed from the elevator and the system was reset.

On January 5th at approximately 7:15 a.m. Wakefield Engine 2 responded to Saugus on their 2nd alarm fire at 16 Dreeme Street. A crew led by Lieutenant J.T. Mercurio, along with FF’s Joseph Nee, and Richard Cardavelli assisted with fire extinguishment and overhaul until the fire was declared under control several hours later.

On the 5th of January Group 3, under the command of Captain Mike Long, responded to a Hazardous material incident at 607 North Avenue, Door #16. The facility manager for the property called reporting a substantial amount of #2 heating oil leaking within the utility room of the building. Box 3463 was transmitted. On arrival companies found over 50 gallons of heating oil on the floor within the utility area and immediately began to contain it with absorbent. Stoneham Fire responded to cover Wakefield Headquarters. The leak was quickly stopped by the Department. The building, which contained a child daycare operation, was evacuated and all children were relocated to the nearby hotel at 595 North Avenue. The leak was fully contained, the building was ventilated, and a damage mitigation firm responded to assist with clean-up. The Department of Environmental Protection was also notified and responded to the scene to assist.

At approximately 9:00 p.m. on the evening of January 5th Wakefield Engine 2 responded to Stoneham Fire headquarters for coverage on their working fire at 490 Williams Street. The crew of Lieutenant Joe Albert, Geno Doucette, and Joseph Nee were quickly dispatched to the fireground and given orders to conduct a search of the structure. The crew remained on scene assisting with fire suppression efforts until the fire was declared under control.

On January 8th Ladder 1 responded to 4 Harrington Court, for a single car crash into a tree and through a fence with the vehicle ending up into a nearby garage. The crew led by Lieutenant Steve Bivens rendered medical care and the vehicle was removed from the scene. The garage suffered no serious structural damage.

Wakefield Engine 1 covered in the Town of North Reading at Fire Headquarters on their working Fire located at 235 Haverhill Street at 6:30 a.m. on the morning of January 11, 2026.

On January 12th, just after midnight, Wakefield Engine 2 again covered in the Town of Stoneham on their working fire. The crew was released after a few hours.

At approximately 10:44 p.m. on the evening of January 13th, the Department responded to I-95 Northbound between exits 58-59 for a serious motor vehicle accident. Crews led by Captain Mike Long found 2 heavily damaged vehicles in the breakdown lane and immediately assisted with patient care. One patient was transported to the hospital and both vehicles were removed from the scene.

Wakefield Engine 2 responded mutual aid to assist the City of Melrose with a medical aid on January 14th, 2026 at 8:37 a.m. Melrose companies were tied up at other emergency incidents.

On the evening of January 21st mutual aid box 8235 was transmitted at approximately 5:49 p.m. sending Wakefield Engine 1 direct to a second alarm fire in the Town of Reading, location 27 James Road. A crew of Lieutenant Erik Cole, Patrick Farrell, and Samuel Carr were given orders to stretch a 2.5” handline, under heavy fire conditions, to the 2nd floor for fire suppression on arrival. Chief Thomas Purcell also responded on the second alarm and operated as part of the command staff. A third alarm was struck as the building was consumed in fire and evacuated as companies were forced to a defensive posture. Wakefield crews assisted with suppression, ventilation, and extensive overhaul. Crews were released by command and returned to Wakefield once the fire was eventually declared under control just after 11:00 p.m. The home suffered heavy smoke, water, and fire damage.

On the evening of January 23rd, fire alarm received a report of an oven fire at 16 Line road at approximately 5:00 p.m. Responding companies found the fire under control on arrival, ventilated the home, and checked for elevated levels of carbon monoxide. The scene was cleared shortly thereafter without further incident.

As companies were returning from the incident on 16 Line Road, Box 154 was struck for the chimney fire at 3 Marion Road. On arrival, crews under the command of Captain Randy Hudson, reported a working chimney fire. Ladder 1 positioned the aerial ladder to the chimney as Engine 2 gained control from the first-floor fireplace. The fire was extinguished after some effort with crews ventilating the home and checking for elevated readings of carbon monoxide. Companies cleared and the home was released back to the occupants.

Wakefield Engine 1 provided mutual aid coverage to the Town of Reading on January 24, 2026 during their working fire.

Wakefield and the rest of the New England were hit with a serious Nor’easter on January 25th into January 26th. Winter storm “Fern” brought heavy snow and extremely cold temperatures with Wakefield receiving over 22” of snowfall. All Town Buildings and Schools were declared closed on Monday, January 26th as the clean-up began. The Department responded to over 35 calls during the 2-day period. An extra Engine Company was put into service for the storm and crews continued to shovel out buried fire hydrants all week long.

On January 28 Car 3, Engine 1, and Ladder 1 responded to 3 Williams Street for the report of a substantial heating fuel spill. On arrival Captain Mike Long reported over 30 gallons of home heating fuel #2 in the basement. An oil company was in the process of removing a fuel tank when, incidentally, an oil truck came for a scheduled fuel delivery not knowing the tank had just been removed, filling the basement with fuel. The department quickly contained the spill with absorbent and notified the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) whom responded the scene. Deputy Chief Walsh and Fire Prevention Captain Sean Curran also responded to assist. Approximately 30-40 gallons were determined to have been spilled. The occupancy was ventilated and companies cleared after some time. A local hazardous material vendor assisted the homeowner with clean-up.

During the month of January all (4) working Groups continued to train on yearly Emergency Medical Technician requirements. Ice and Water rescue training was completed at Lake Quannapowitt. All Groups started the new year reviewing and training on Department Standard Operating Guideline(s) to include: Dept. Rules & Regulations, Operational readiness, Incident Command & Control, Unified Command, Fireground Communications, and Fireground Operations. The Department also hosted the Massachusetts Fire Academy course: Reducing Cancer in the Fire Service.

Incident Response Report

Fire Prevention Report