June 2022

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 367 emergency incidents during the month of June including 28 box alarms and 339 still alarms. The department responded to five requests for mutual aid during June, twice to Melrose and Stoneham and once to Lowell. The department received mutual aid six times during the month of June, three times from Reading and once each from Lynnfield Melrose and Stoneham. Firefighters from Engine 2 covered a vacant Malden fire station during a 3-alarm fire in that city on the evening of June 6. A crew from Engine 2 covered Stoneham Fire Headquarters while that department was tied up during the afternoon of June 8. Firefighters from Engine 2 covered Melrose Fire Headquarters during a structure fire in that city on the morning of June 14. A crew from Engine 2 covered Stoneham Fire headquarters during an incident in that community during the afternoon of June 16.

Captain Paul Pronco responded along with other members of the Northeast Massachusetts Technical Rescue Team to assist in the search for a missing 3-year old boy in Lowell. Sadly, the young boy was found deceased the next day.

Crews working under Captain Brian Purcell responded to a single-family residence at 35 Parker Road during the early evening of June 5 after the resident reported an electrical outlet on fire. Firefighters found the fire starting to extend to the kitchen cabinets upon their arrival and were able to quickly extinguish it before it could extend any further. Fire damage was contained to the immediate area of the electrical outlet and the residents were able to remain in the home.

Captain Purcell led another group of firefighters responding to a reported kitchen fire during the afternoon of June 14. Firefighters encountered a heavy smoke condition inside the two-family residence upon their arrival. Fortunately, the fire was quickly contained to the area of the first-floor kitchen stove. The area immediately surrounding the stove was scorched and the oven was destroyed. The remainder of the first floor suffered considerable smoke damage during the fire. The family was able to remain in the home after they relocated to the second-floor unit. There were no injuries to either residents or firefighters during this incident. The cause of the fire was determined to be the accidental ignition of groceries placed on top of the kitchen stove that were inadvertently ignited by the homeowner when she bumped into a stove burner control. A 14-year old occupant of the residence was credited with her calm and rapid notification of the Wakefield Fire Department via a 911 call.

Firefighters under the command of Captain Randy Hudson responded to a report of a truck transporting hazardous materials on fire on Route 95 Southbound in the area of Exit 58 on the morning of June 15. Firefighters arrived to find a tractor-trailer truck transporting propane tanks with a brake fire burning in the rear tire area of the vehicle. Water was applied to the rear axle and tires to extinguish and cool down this area. A shuttle system was set up utilizing a fire hydrant on Bay State Road with the three fire engines on scene including a Lynnfield Engine to provide adequate water to ensure the fire was completely extinguished. Approximately 400 (20) lb. propane tanks were removed from the truck before being reloaded onto another transport vehicle that responded to the scene. Quick and efficient work by both the Wakefield and Lynnfield Fire Departments prevented this potentially dangerous incident from extending to the truck’s explosive cargo. All apparatus cleared the scene after approximately 90 minutes. There were no injuries to either the truck driver or responding firefighters.

All groups conducted boat training evolutions at Lake Quannapowitt during June and attended medical classes as part of their Emergency Medical Technician certificates. Department members continued their annual in-service business inspections of commercial properties. All groups received training at Wakefield Fire Headquarters in the proper use of its new fire dispatch and notification equipment recently installed at the Public Safety Building. Training was also conducted during June by all groups at Crystal Lake at the Wakefield DPW water department pumping station. The training involved the proper procedures to be used while drafting water from a lake or pond. This evolution was combined with a pumping drill utilizing heavy stream appliances including deck guns and an aerial ladder pipe.

The department visited several elementary schools including the Dolbeare, Doyle and Woodville, where they enjoyed a nice visit with the kindergarten and preschool children who then helped them wash their trucks. The department held a brief but emotional ceremony on June 12 acknowledging Firefighter Memorial Sunday, an annual service which had been canceled for the past two years due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Incident Response Report

Fire Prevention Report