June 2025

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 377 emergency incidents during the month of June 2025 including 37 box alarms and 340 still alarms. The department responded to three requests for mutual aid during June, two times to Stoneham and once to Melrose. The department received mutual aid four times during June, all four times from Reading.

Firefighters under the command of Captain Brian Purcell responded to 10 Birch Hill
Avenue at approximately 6:46 P.M. on June 24 after receiving a report of a garage fire at that location. On arrival at the scene, an occupant of the building reported discovering a fire at the rear of the garage. Firefighters investigated and found that an arcing light fixture had ignited a section of the rear wall of the garage. A portable fire extinguisher was used to knock down the fire until a hose line could be stretched into the garage to completely extinguish it. The fire was contained to the immediate area surrounding the light fixture. Prompt reporting of the fire by the occupant helped to prevent a more serious fire from occurring in this unoccupied detached garage for this residence. The fire caused no damage to the nearby home and the garage was fully operational after the fire was extinguished. There were no injuries as a result of this fire.

Department members participated in Emergency Medical Technician training classes as
part of their annual continuing education requirements including a class on controlling severe bleeding. Several groups conducted practical training on the proper operation of ATV vehicles including a hands-on course put together at Camp Curtis Guild in Reading. Several groups began training with the new fire boat purchased as part of the Capital Outlay budget for the Wakefield Fire Department. All department groups toured the new residential apartment building at 200 Quannapowitt Parkway in anticipation of its official opening in August.

Children from the Woodville and Dolbeare Kindergarten classes assisted department members with washing a fire truck on June 4 and 12 respectively. Children from the Kindercare School at 607 North Avenue also received a visit from firefighters on June 24 as did the children attending the summer camp at the Americal Civic Center sponsored by the Wakefield Police Department on June 26. The department participated in a ceremony honoring deceased and retired Wakefield Police Officers held at the Public Safety Building community room on June 1. The Wakefield Fire Department annual Firefighter Memorial Sunday Service was held at the Lakeside Cemetery on North Avenue on the morning of June 8. A contingent of Wakefield Firefighters marched into the cemetery led by a bagpiper to start the ceremony. A short but moving service followed including a reading of the department’s Honor Roll of deceased permanent firefighters and the sounding of taps by students from the Wakefield Memorial High School Marching Band.

Incident Response Report

Fire Prevention Report