May 2019

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 333 emergency incidents during the month of May including 32 box alarms and 301 still alarms.

The department responded to six requests for mutual aid during May, twice to Melrose, twice to Saugus and once each to Lynnfield and Stoneham. It received mutual aid one time in May from Stoneham. A crew from Engine 2 under the direction of Lieutenant Joseph Albert assisted the Stoneham Fire Department at the scene of a 2-alarm fire at 11 Sherwood Road during the early evening of May 8. Firefighters from Engine 2 under the command of Lieutenant Christopher Crogan assisted the Saugus Fire Department at the scene of a structure fire at 15 Riverside Court during the afternoon of May 27.

Firefighters under the command of Captain Thomas Purcell responded to a reported house fire at 72 Outlook Road during the afternoon of May 8. On arrival, firefighters found that a resident had accidentally started a fire beneath the exterior siding of the single family home while using a torch to burn off vegetation around the foundation. Firefighters quickly removed the siding in the affected areas and extinguished the remaining fire that the resident was not able to access. The fire was contained to the exterior wall areas that had been ignited and did not extend into the home. The interior of the home suffered significant smoke damage, displacing the occupants for several days until the residence could be cleaned. There were no injuries to either of the two occupants or any responding firefighters during this incident. A Stoneham engine covered Wakefield Fire Headquarters during the fire.

Fire crews narrowly averted two serious fires caused by unattended cooking during the month of May. The first incident occurred on May 5 at 12 Princess Street during the early evening of May 5. Firefighters under Captain Paul Pronco responded to a fire alarm activation at this location and found that burning food had caused a heavy smoke condition inside the apartment. Two occupants were found sleeping as firefighters gained entry into the unit and were quickly woken and taken outside. The apartment was vented of smoke before the occupants were allowed to return to their unit. There was no damage to the apartment and the two rescued occupants were not injured. The second fire occurred during the afternoon of May 18 as unattended food once again created a heavy smoke condition inside the condominium building at 26 Chestnut Street. Firefighters led by Captain Thomas Purcell encountered zero visibility smoke conditions inside an apartment at that location. Once again the occupant had fallen asleep and left cooking food on the stove. The occupant woke up and evacuated the unit prior to the arrival of responding firefighters. The building was completely vented of smoke before occupants were allowed to re-enter. There were no injuries as a result of this fire.

Eight department members took part in an excellent training session during the week of May 20 sponsored by the Woburn Fire Department on tactics and strategies associated with fighting fires in two and a half story wood framed dwellings. The class was conducted by retired Brockton Fire Chief Kenneth F. Galligan, a well-respected leader in the fire service. The class was attended by more than 200 area firefighters and was offered at no cost to the department. All duty shifts conducted training on the department’s two fire boats and on proper water rescue procedures during the month of May. All duty shifts continued their in-service business safety inspections and continuing education classes for Emergency Medical Technician during the month of May.

A group of preschool children form the Tall Spire Nursery School visited Wakefield Fire Headquarters during the mornings of May 6 and 7. Chief Sullivan hosted two Wakefield High School juniors for the day on May 22 as part of the school’s Career Shadow Day. The boys enjoyed the day and gained valuable insight into what a potential career in the fire service might entail. The department visited several preschool groups at the Doyle Early Learning Center on May 29 and the kindergartners at the Dolbeare School on May 31 where they assisted firefighters with washing their fire trucks.

Incident Response Report

Fire Prevention Report