March 2016

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 317 emergency incidents during the month of March including 38 box alarms and 279 still alarms.

The department responded to four requests for mutual aid during March, once each to Woburn, Melrose, Lynnfield and North Reading. It received mutual aid twice during March, once each from Reading and Stoneham. A crew from Engine 2 led by Lieutenant Michael Long covered a vacant Woburn fire station during a three-alarm fire in that city during the afternoon of March 8. Wakefield Engine 2 covered Melrose Fire headquarters during the early evening of March 12 and Engine 4 covered Lynnfield Fire Headquarters during the early evening of March 13. Lt Phil Preston and a crew from Engine 1 assisted the North Reading Fire Department at the scene of a 2-alarm fire on Wright Street during the evening of March 30.

Captain Randy Hudson led firefighters responding to a fire at the Dunkin Donuts at 225 North Avenue during the morning of March 2. Firefighters found a smoke condition throughout the restaurant caused by a grease fire behind a small oven in the front counter area. The adjoining areas and duct work were checked for extension but the fire itself was contained to the area behind the oven. There were no injuries and the restaurant was closed for a brief period while the damage was cleaned up.

Wakefield firefighters under the command of Captain Randy Hudson responded to an incident involving a wall collapse in a house under construction at 18 Line Road during the morning of March 17. The second floor wall collapsed onto four construction workers seriously injuring them. Firefighters worked closely with Action Ambulance personnel to remove the injured parties by ladder and transport them to area hospitals. The rescue was made more challenging by the fact that the interior stairs had only been partially completed at this stage in the building’s construction.

Firefighters under Captain Brian Purcell responded to a report of a car fire at 18 Highland Street during the morning of March 22. Firefighters arrived to find that the car fire had extended to the adjoining house next to the driveway. Quick work by responding crews confined the fire to the vehicle and the exterior siding of the house next to the fed by the interior wood framing inside the walls. The occupants were able to remain in the home and one firefighter suffered minor injuries as a result of the fire.

All four duty groups conducted walk thru tours of 365 and 96 Audubon Road during the month of March and began their annual in-service business fire inspections for the 2016 calendar year. Quarterly fire inspections were also conducted during the month of March in all nursing homes, schools, hotels and rooming houses.

Incident Response Report

Fire Prevention Report