November 2016

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 285 emergency incidents during the month of November including 32 box alarms and 253 still alarms.

The department responded to four requests for mutual aid during November, twice each to Melrose and Saugus. It received mutual aid once during the month of November from Stoneham. Acting Lieutenant Daniel Sullivan and a crew from Engine 2 assisted the Saugus Fire Department at the scene of a structure fire at 57 Harrison Avenue in that community during the evening of November 11. A crew from Engine 2 under the command of Lieutenant David Shinney assisted the Saugus Fire Department at the scene of a house fire at 6 Midland Avenue that seriously injured a male occupant at during the afternoon of November 23. Lieutenant Michael Long and a crew from Engine 2 covered Melrose Fire Headquarters during the evening of November 29 while that department was battling a structure fire at 111 Grove Street.

Wakefield firefighters under the command of Captain Thomas Purcell responded to a kitchen fire at 72 Converse Street during the evening of November 15. Firefighters arrived to find a fire in a microwave oven that had extended to adjacent wooden trim and cabinets before being partially extinguished by an occupant. Fire damage was contained to the microwave and surrounding area while the remainder of the home suffered some smoke damage. The cause of the fire was determined to be the overheating and subsequent ignition of a heating pad inside the microwave oven. There were no injuries as a result of this fire and the family was able to remain in the home.

Captain Thomas Purcell led firefighters at the scene of a motor vehicle accident and fuel spill at the Irving self-service gasoline station at 448 Salem Street during the early morning of November 18. A vehicle towing a trailer accidentally stuck a fuel pump, damaging the internal piping and spilling approximately 75 gallons of gasoline onto the concrete apron surrounding the pumps. Fortunately, all of the safety features in the pump worked correctly, shutting down the flow of gasoline. Firefighters contained the spilled fuel with bags of absorbent and diked nearby storm drains and applied a foam blanket to the spill area to contain the flammable gasoline fumes. The regional state hazardous materials team was activated and responded to provide additional support and advice to the department. Irving Fuel representatives notified a clean-up company to mitigate the spill and make repairs. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection was notified and responded to supervise the clean-up operation. Quick and decisive action by Wakefield Firefighters kept a serious incident from becoming a major spill and fire.

Firefighters under the direction of Captain Brian Purcell assisted a homeowner at 132 New Salem Street check on a fire that he had extinguished on the exterior cedar shingle siding of the residence during the evening of November 22. The fire, caused by the improper disposal of smoking materials, was contained to the small area of exterior siding.

An evacuation drill was conducted at the Northeast Regional Vocational School on November 14. Department members continue to participate in emergency medical training as part of their ongoing process to maintain their certifications as Emergency Medical Technicians including a program on the prevention of exposures to blood-borne pathogens. A Cub Scout den visited the Wakefield Fire Department Headquarters during the afternoon of November 10.

Incident Response Report

Fire Prevention Report