The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 219 emergency incidents during the month of March including 28 box alarms and 191 still alarms.
The Department responded to five mutual aid requests during March, twice to Melrose, twice to Stoneham and once to Middleton. During March it received mutual aid once from Reading. Wakefield Engine 2 and a crew led by Acting Lt. Philip Preston responded to a two-alarm fire at 25 Williams Street in Stoneham during the early morning of March 1, 2011. Engine 2 covered the Middleton fire station during a four-alarm explosion and fire at the Bostik’s plant on Boston Road during the evening of March 13. Wakefield covered Melrose fire headquarters during a working fire in that city on the evening of March 23. Lt. Thomas Purcell led a crew responding to a two-alarm structure fire at 10 Cherry Avenue in Stoneham during the evening of March 28.
All four duty shifts received a presentation from the New England Organ Bank during March as part of their Emergency Medical Technician continuing education program. Two Wakefield High School Juniors participated in a career shadow day with Chief Sullivan on March 23 where they got an in-depth look at the fire station, protective gear, and equipment utilized by the department. Quarterly fire inspections of all nursing homes, hotels, and rooming houses were also conducted during March.
Wakefield firefighters Daniel Hancock, Dean Marsinelli and Kevin Wesley graduated from a Class 190 of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy recruit training program on March 25 at a ceremony held at the Assabet Valley Regional Vocational School in Marlborough. All three firefighters are now certified to the level of Firefighter I/II after completion of this 12-week training program and will be returning to their respective groups. We wish them a long and productive career with the Wakefield Fire Department.
