The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 283 emergency incidents during the month of June including 49 box alarms and 234 still alarms.
The Department responded to two mutual aid requests during June, once to Melrose and once to Malden. The department received mutual aid three times during the month of June, twice from Reading and once from Lynnfield. Wakefield Engine 2, under the command of Lieutenant Kevin Carney, assisted the Melrose Fire Department at a two alarm house fire on Natalie Avenue during the afternoon of June 6th. Lieutenant Carney led another crew from Engine 2 when they were called to assist at a four alarm fire on Summer Street in Malden during the evening of June 30th.
Crews from Engine 1 and Ladder 1 under the command of Captain Paul Pronco were dispatched to a serious motorcycle accident during the evening of June 27th. Despite the best efforts of Wakefield firefighters and Action Ambulance personnel, a young Wakefield man lost his life as a result of this accident.
Wakefield Ladder 1 visited the Woodville Elementary School on June 11th and the Dolbeare Elementary School on June 14th and helped the kindergarten children wash the fire truck as part of their year end celebration. A group of young children and their parents known as Parents of Tots visited Wakefield Fire Headquarters on June 25th and enjoyed a tour of the station and trucks.
The department continued to conduct training drills with its two boats at Lake Quannapowitt, utilizing the reconstructed boat ramp at Veteran’s Field and also at Crystal Lake. Wakefield firefighters Chris Curran, Sean Giampa, Timothy Donovan, and Gerald Sancinito will be starting their training with the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy recruit training class number 188 on July 6th. This class will run for twelve straight weeks until the end of September.
Wakefield firefighter Brain Purcell was promoted to Fire Lieutenant effective July 1, 2010. Lieutenant Purcell will be replacing Lieutenant Steven Kessel, who retired from the department on June 1st.
