July 2015

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 334 emergency incidents during the month of July including 34 box alarms and 300 still alarms.

The department responded to five requests for mutual aid during July, twice to Stoneham, and once each to Melrose, Reading and Saugus. It received mutual aid four times during July, twice from Lynnfield, and once each from Reading and Stoneham. A crew from Engine 2 led by Lieutenant David Shinney assisted the Saugus Fire Department at a 3-alarm structure fire at 3 Water Wheel Lane during the early morning of July 12. Lieutenant John Walsh and a crew from Engine 1 assisted the Reading Fire Department during a major natural gas leak in that community during the morning of July 14. Firefighters under the command of Lieutenant Brian Purcell covered Stoneham Fire Headquarters during an extensive brush fire in that community during the evening of July 31.

Wakefield firefighters under the command of Captain Paul Pronco responded to a reported house fire at 59 Bennett Street during the morning of July 3. Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke condition in the home caused when an oil burner in the home, which was undergoing major renovations, accidentally turned on with its flue pipe removed. The situation was quickly controlled with no damage extending beyond the immediate area of the burner. Captain Randy Hudson led an effort by firefighters to assist a family on Houston Street when a large tree came down onto their house. The fallen tree caused considerable damage to the residence, however, the family was able to remain in the home.

The department received training on the 23 new sets of breathing apparatus it received as part of a Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighter’s Grant (AFG) totaling more than $190,000. Each department member also had their individual face piece fit-tested to insure it will work properly with the new breathing apparatus. AFG grants are applied for annually with this particular grant funding approximately 90% of the cost of the new breathing apparatus. A new comparator for the department’s radio system was installed on July 15. This $21,500 comparator was funded partially from a state emergency management grant with the remainder of the funding being allocated as part of the department’s fiscal year 2016 capital outlay budget.

All department groups continue their annual inspections and surveys of businesses located in their assigned districts. The department received excellent training on firefighting foam operations from a representative of Cottrell Associates Inc. and National Foam on July 21. This training involved a classroom presentation during the morning discussing the properties of common flammable liquids the department could expect to encounter as well as the proper application of alcohol resistant firefighting foam. Special emphasis was placed on ethanol, which is commonly transported on Route 95. A short practical evolution was then conducted with foam at the Nahant Street pits. The training was very informative and will be put to good use as the department re-evaluates its foam procedures and updates it equipment. All four duty groups received training on how to handle service dogs while responding to medical emergency calls involving patients equipped with them.

More than 40 children taking part in the Middlesex Youth Public Safety Academy, sponsored by the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office, toured both the police and fire stations at the Public Safety Building on July 15. A group of students from the Galvin Middle School summer program visited Wakefield Fire headquarters during the morning of July30.

Incident Response Report

Fire Prevention Report