May 2020

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 275 emergency incidents during the month of May including 28 box alarms and 247 still alarms. The department responded to six requests for mutual aid during May, twice to Stoneham and once each to Lynnfield, Melrose, Reading and Woburn. The department received mutual aid once during the month of May from Lynnfield. A crew from Engine 1 led by Lieutenant Cliff Silva covered a vacant Lynnfield fire station during the morning of May 5. Another crew from Engine 1 under Lieutenant Phil Preston covered a vacant Woburn fire station during a 2-alarm fire in that city also on the morning of May 5. Lt. Daniel Hancock and a crew from Engine 1 covered Stoneham Fire Headquarters while that department was tied up with a serious motor vehicle accident during the morning of May 14. A crew from Engine 2 under Lieutenant Joseph Albert covered Stoneham Fire headquarters while that department was tied up at an incident during the evening of May 18. Lieutenant Cliff Silva and a crew from Engine 1 covered Reading Fire Headquarters during a fire in that community on the morning of May 29.

Firefighters under the command of Captain Thomas Purcell responded to a reported kitchen fire at 76 Pleasant Street during the evening of May 28. Crews arrived to find the fire had been knocked down by the homeowner using a portable fire extinguisher. Apparently the homeowner had stepped away from the kitchen while melting a stick of butter and returned to find the butter had ignited. The fire spread to adjoining cabinetry and an overhead microwave oven before being extinguished. Firefighters checked for any fire extension in the kitchen and found no extension beyond what had already been damaged. The home sustained significant smoke damage throughout the first floor and firefighters used several smoke ejectors to clear the smoke from the apartment. There were no injuries as a result of the fire and the occupants were displaced until repairs could be made.

The Wakefield Fire Department continues to respond to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic affecting the country. The department responded to 117 calls where Covid-19 was either present or suspected during the month of May. Department personnel equipped with medical masks, gowns, shields and gloves respond to all requests for medical aid in an attempt to protect both themselves, their families and members of the public from contracting Covid-19. The department continues to work closely along with our EMS partners with Cataldo Ambulance to provide all emergency medical care that potential Covid-19 patients require.

The Department continues to experience a decrease in the number of non-Covid-19 medical calls that it responds to and reminds members of the public not to hesitate to call for assistance for any type of medical emergency, not just those related to Covid-19. Citizens with symptoms of heart attack or stroke, severe hemorrhaging, allergic reactions and other life-threatening conditions still require prompt treatment and transport to the hospital; it is imperative that these citizens still call 911 for help. Hospitals and emergency rooms have taken extensive precautions to minimize the risk to patients not affected by Covid-19.

All scheduled emergency medical training in May was cancelled due to the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic. The department was able to conduct training classes on Electrical Safety for two of its four duty shifts during the month of May. This training was conducted by retired Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light Department employee Dan Flynn, who has moved into a new position as a safety trainer for the Northeast Public Power Association. Dan will be back to conduct this training for the remaining two duty groups during the month of June.

Several department members assisted in a town-wide door to door distribution of medical masks to the citizens of Wakefield during the period of May 4 to May 6. Department members distributed masks in residential neighborhoods and also to almost two dozen apartment and condominiums complexes. Wakefield was one of only a few communities to complete a door to door distribution of masks and I am proud of the department’s contribution towards the completion of this important event.

Incident Response Report

Fire Prevention Report