June 2016

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 300 emergency incidents during the month of June including 28 box alarms and 272 still alarms.

The department responded to four requests for mutual aid during June, once each to North Reading, Reading, Saugus and Winchester. It received mutual aid thirteen times during June, four times from Lynnfield, twice from Malden and once each from Melrose, North Reading, Reading, Saugus, Stoneham, Winchester and Woburn. A crew from Engine 1 led by Lieutenant Phil Preston covered the North Reading Fire Headquarters during a two-alarm fire in that community in the early morning hours of June 1. A crew from Engine 2 led by Acting Lieutenant John Hurley covered Winchester Fire Headquarters during a three-alarm fire in that community on the morning of June 5. Lieutenant John Walsh led a crew from Engine 1 that provided assistance to the Reading Fire Department during a 2-alarm fire on Curtis Street in that community during the evening of June 14.

Firefighters under the command of Captain Brian Purcell responded to Wakefield’s second multiple alarm fire of the year at 12 Highland Street during the evening of June 25. Firefighters arrived within one minute of being dispatched to find a large fire engulfing the deck and exterior siding on the east side of the residence as well as fire showing from several second floor windows. The fire quickly extended into concealed wall and ceiling spaces and second and third alarms were struck bringing additional firefighters from Lynnfield, Melrose, North Reading, Reading, Saugus, Stoneham and Woburn to the scene. The fire took several hours to extinguish and caused heavy fire damage to the second and third floors of this two-family residence. Homes on both sides of the residence were damaged by the intense heat given off during the beginning stages of the fire. The two homeowners were displaced from the residence until extensive repairs can be made. Two firefighters suffered heat-related injuries during the fire, one requiring transport to an area hospital. State troopers from the Fire Marshal’s Office were called in to investigate the fire and determined the fire started in the area of the rear deck most likely from the improper disposal of a cigarette.

Captain Thomas Purcell led firefighters at the scene of a serious motor vehicle accident at 86 Elm Street during the afternoon of June 8. A male operator of a motorcycle was seriously injured after colliding with a car. Due to the nature of his injuries he was transported by Boston Medflight Helicopter to Tufts Medical Center in Boston. Off-duty Wakefield firefighter Michael Rowe received a department Letter of Commendation for his efforts in assisting the downed motorcyclist before the arrival of on-duty firefighters and paramedics from Action Ambulance. His actions as well as the actions of all emergency personnel at the scene likely saved this young man’s life.

June was a hot dry month resulting in low fuel moisture levels in ground vegetation such as mulch and brush. As a result, the department was kept busy with numerous mulch fires caused by discarded cigarettes. The department responded to fourteen brush fires the largest of which occurred on June 12 in a wooded area off of the end of Acorn Avenue, consuming several acres. The department returned to this area on June 14 and 22 to wet down several hot spots. A smaller but more spectacular night brush fire occurred along a ridge line behind Gates Lane during the evening of June 19, threatening several homes before it was quickly contained by responding firefighters under the command of Captain Paul Pronco.

All groups continued their annual in-service business fire inspections for the 2016 calendar year. Group 1 firefighters led by Captain Randy Hudson conducted a simulated water rescue after a brief public safety announcement coordinated by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office at the lake shore on the lower common at noon on June 22. Department EMT’s continued working on their National Core Curriculum Requirements during 2016 as part of their annual continuing education for Emergency Medical Technician. The crew from Ladder 1 washed their fire truck with preschoolers from the Doyle School on June 1 and kindergarteners from the Woodville and Dolbeare Schools on June 6 and 9. All four groups conducted search and rescue drills and practiced cutting roof holes in a residence at 4 Walton Place in greenwood scheduled to be razed in the near future.

Incident Response Report

Fire Prevention Report