November 2017

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 335 emergency incidents during the month of November including 36 box alarms and 299 still alarms.

The department responded to four requests for mutual aid during November, twice to Melrose and once to Reading and Stoneham. It received mutual aid once during November from Lynnfield. Lt. John Mercurio and a crew from Engine 1 covered Reading Fire Headquarters during the early morning of November 4 while firefighters in that community were tied up at a structure. Lieutenant Joseph Albert and a crew from Engine 2 covered Stoneham Fire headquarters during a fire in the community during the afternoon of November 22.

Firefighters under the command of Captain Thomas Purcell responded to a reported fire at the Park Crossing Condominiums at 234 Water Street during the afternoon of November 4. Responding crews arrived to find a fire in the washing machine of a third floor unit. The fire was quickly extinguished but caused a considerable smoke condition throughout the unit and adjacent third floor corridors. The fire itself was contained to the washing machine. The cause of the fire was determined to be an unknown mechanical failure inside the washing machine. There were no injuries during this fire. No building occupants were displaced as a result of this fire.

Crews led by Captain Brian Purcell responded to Mike’s Gym, 10 Broadway, after smoke was spotted coming from the building during the evening of November 9. Firefighters quickly determined the cause of the fire to be a malfunctioning sign on the front of the building. Power to the sign was disconnected and the fire was quickly extinguished. The cause of the fire was determined to be a burned out ballast in the sign. There was no other damage to the building and no one was injured.

All four of the department’s pumping engines passed their annual service test on November 10. All groups conducted walk through familiarization tours of the new Brightview facility on Crescent Street, the new self-storage building at 400 Audubon Road, the Hallmark Health medical office building at 888 Main Street and the solar array installations on the roofs of the parking garages at 600 and 700 Edgewater Drive during November. All Groups participated in a class practicing vehicle extrication techniques at Howe’s tow yard during the month of November. Recently appointed Firefighter Joseph Treacy began his ten-week recruit training program at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy on November 2 with an anticipated graduation date of January 22, 2018.

A combined evacuation and reunification drill was conducted at the St. Joseph’s School on November 9. A troop of Daisy Girl Scouts from the Woodville School visited fire headquarters on November 6. Preschool children from the Doyle School visited fire headquarters on November 13. The Fire Prevention Bureau conducted a final inspections of the sprinkler system, fire alarm system, carbon monoxide detection system and kitchen fire suppression system at the new 130-unit Brightview assisted living facility, located at 21 Crescent Street, during the month of November.

Incident Response Report

Fire Prevention Report