May 2016

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 341 emergency incidents during the month of May including 27 box alarms and 314 still alarms.

The department responded to two requests for mutual aid during May, once each to Lynnfield and Stoneham. It received mutual aid five times during May, twice from Stoneham and once from Lynnfield, Reading and Saugus. A crew from Engine 1 led by Lieutenant John Walsh assisted the Lynnfield Fire Department at the scene of a 2-alarm fire at 844 Main Street in that community during the early morning of May 28.

Firefighters under the command of Captain Brian Purcell responded to a basement fire during the early evening of May 16. Firefighters arrived to find the home filled with smoke from a basement stove-top fire that had extended to nearby cabinets. The fire was quickly extinguished and confined to the immediate area surrounding the stove. The occupants were able to reoccupy the residence once the heavy smoke condition had been vented.

Captain Randy Hudson led firefighters at the scene of a fire in the service area of Liberty Chevrolet on Bay State Road around noontime on May 18. The fire started while work was being done to remove a fuel tank from a vehicle and a flash fire occurred. Liberty Chevrolet employees managed to knock down the fire in the burning fuel tank with fire extinguishers and move it outdoors prior to the arrival of the department. An employee in the service area suffered burns to his face as a result of the fire and was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. Fortunately, his injuries were not serious. Damage was confined to the immediate area of the tank and the dealership was able to remain open.

All groups continued their annual in-service business fire inspections for the 2016 calendar year. All shifts reviewed standard operating procedures on the operation of the department’s two fire boats as well as procedures to be followed during water rescues. Department EMT’s continued working on their National Core Curriculum Requirements during 2016 as part of their annual continuing education for Emergency Medical Technician. The department conducted fire drills in all public and private schools in town during the month of May. The crew from Ladder 1 visited the children at the Tall Spire Nursery School on May 26 and 27.

Incident Response Report

Fire Prevention Report