May 2013

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 276 emergency incidents during the month of May including 44 box alarms and 232 still alarms.

The Department responded to six requests for mutual aid during May, three times to Melrose, two times to Saugus and once to Lynnfield. It received mutual aid nineteen times in May, four times from Reading, three times each from Stoneham and Lynnfield, twice each from North Reading, Melrose and Woburn and once from Malden. A crew under Acting Lt. Christopher Crogan assisted the Lynnfield Fire Department at a working fire at 2 Horseshoe Drive in that community during the morning of May 8. Lt. Brian Purcell and a crew from engine 4 covered Melrose Fire headquarters during a working fire in that community during the afternoon of May 14. Lt. Kevin Carney and a crew from Engine 4 assisted the Saugus fire department at a working roof fire at the RESCO Plant during the evening of May 29. Engine 4 along with firefighters under Lt. Robert Taggart responded to a working fire at 25 Cheever Avenue in Saugus during the afternoon of May 31.

Wakefield firefighters under the command of Captain Joseph Riley responded to a single alarm house fire at 63 Gould Street during the evening hours of May 9. The fire spread extended to the first floor before it was contained. The exact cause of this accidental fire has not been determined as it is still being investigated. The Wakefield Fire Department was called back to 63 Gould Street at 12:50 A.M. on May 10 for a report of a structure fire. The department arrived to find a large fire at the front section of the home. This second fire required a second alarm response and severely damaged the home. The fire was determined to be a re-kindle of the previous fire due to the absence of any other cause. The family will be displaced from this home for an extended period until the home is either repaired or replaced. The entire department regrets this apparent re-kindle and the subsequent loss that it has caused the family.

Captain Riley led another group of firefighters on May 16 to a reported structure fire at 330 Rear Salem Street. Firefighters arrived to find a heavy fire condition in the rear of the residence. The fire was quickly contained to the rear wall of the residence and adjoining rooms. One firefighter was injured during the fire, suffering from heat exhaustion while battling the fire in summer-like temperatures. The home was extensively damaged as a result of the fire, displacing all five building occupants. The cause of the fire is officially undetermined although the careless disposal of smoking materials is strongly suspected to be a factor in the ignition of this fire.

All groups continued to work on their Emergency Medical Technician refresher training during the month of May. This 24-hour class is a required part of the continuing education for an Emergency Medical Technician and must be completed every two years. All department personnel conducted a site visit to the newly finished Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light Department facility at 480 North Avenue. The department successfully completed its annual testing of fire hose during May. Fire drills were conducted in all public and private school buildings in Wakefield during the month of May. Groups from Parents of Tots and American Training toured Wakefield Fire Headquarters on May 17 and May 24 respectively.

Wakefield Firefighter Dean Marsinelli resigned from the Wakefield Fire Department effective May 31, 2013 to pursue other career interests. Firefighter Marsinelli was appointed a Permanent Wakefield Firefighter on August 5, 2010. We thank Firefighter Marsinelli for his service to the department and wish him luck on his future endeavors.

Incident Response Report

Fire Prevention Report