March 2021

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 303 emergency incidents during the month of March including 44 box alarms and 259 still alarms. The department responded to five requests for mutual aid during March, once each to Lynnfield, Melrose, Reading, Stoneham and Woburn. The department received mutual aid seven times during the month of March, three times from Stoneham and twice each from Lynnfield and Reading.

A crew from Engine 2 under the command of Lieutenant Michael Long assisted the Stoneham Fire department at the scene of a 3-alarm fire at 34 Hersam Street during the morning of March 6. A crew under Lieutenant Daniel Hancock covered a vacant Lynnfield fire station while crews were tied up in that community during the evening of March 16. A crew from Engine 1 led by Lieutenant Erik Cole assisted the Reading Fire Department at the scene of a 3-alarm fire at 123 Dragon Court during the afternoon of March 18. Firefighters from Engine 1 under the command of Acting Lieutenant John Hurley covered a vacant Woburn fire station during a 2-alarm fire in that community the early morning of March 23.

Firefighters under the command of Captain Randy Hudson responded to a reported electrical fire and explosion inside a utility building located at 599 North Avenue on the grounds of the Lakeside Office Park during the early morning of March 7. The fire was discovered by the Park Manager as an electrical contracting company was investigating a power problem within the park. A large explosion occurred inside the small building setting fire to the contents. The Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light Department was already on scene and shut down the electrical power to the building. Firefighters entered the building once the power was shut down and quickly extinguished the fire. The cause of the fire was determined to be an electrical malfunction in the high-voltage equipped housed inside the small utility building. The equipment inside the structure was completely destroyed, knocking out power to a majority of the office park. Lakeside Office Park management had to bring in large electrical generators to restore power to the park until repairs could be made. There were no injuries to either citizens or firefighters during this fire.

Firefighters led by Captain Paul Pronco responded to a reported building fire at 1 Nablus Road during the afternoon of March 15. They arrived in approximately one minute to find considerable amount of smoke venting from open doors. Firefighters quickly determined the source of the fire to be welding work being conducted in a manufacturing area. Apparently, a spark had been drawn up into the facility’s duct collection system starting a fire in some metal dust lining the system. Firefighters eventually gained access to the ductwork and collections bin, quickly extinguishing the fire. There was no fire extension beyond the dust collection system and no injuries as a result of the fire. The metal fabrication company was able to remain open and operational.

All duty shifts conducted in service walk-throughs of the ongoing construction projects at 69 Foundry Street and 168 Albion Street during March. All groups utilized the vacant building at 500 Main Street for training including commercial roof cutting, advancing charged hose lines, breaching commercial garage doors and search and rescue drills. All Groups toured the water treatment facility on Broadway including the underground sand filter beds in March while the facility was down for routine maintenance. All department members reviewed the new exit numbering system for the Route 95 exits that serve Wakefield as they were recently reconfigured to coincide with the highway mile markers.

All Groups resumed their annual in-service fire safety inspection of businesses on March 1. All Groups resumed their quarterly fire inspections of nursing home, schools, hotels and lodging houses in March. All department personnel completed their annual Conflict of Interest training required of all public employees by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts during March. Fire Chief Michael Sullivan and Deputy Fire Chief Thomas Purcell participated in a documentary video for the Wakefield Alliance Against Violence. This video involved the White Ribbon Campaign, which focuses on community awareness and prevention measures regarding domestic violence against women.

Incident Response Report

Fire Prevention Report