November 2021

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 319 emergency incidents during the month of November 2021 including 34 box alarms and 285 still alarms. The department responded to one request for mutual aid during November to the town of Saugus. The department received mutual aid six times during the month of November, three times from Lynnfield, two times from Reading and once from Stoneham. A crew from Engine 2 under Lt. Christopher Crogan assisted the Saugus Fire Department at the scene of a structure fire during the early morning of November 3.

Wakefield firefighters under the command of Captain Paul Pronco responded to a report of a structure fire at the Crystal Community Club, 77 Preston Street, during the evening of November 10. Upon their arrival, firefighters found smoke pouring from a rear storage area of the building. They forced entry and found that a fire had started in the combustible flooring just inside the doorway. The fire had burned through a small section of the floor igniting the structural framing below. The fire was quickly extinguished, having been slowed by a fire extinguisher used by building occupants prior to the department’s arrival. Fire damage was confined to the area of origin with some minimal smoke and water damage occurring immediately underneath the storage area. There were no injuries as a result of the fire and the club was able to remain open. The cause of the fire was determined to be the careless disposal of smoking materials in the area of the storage room doorway.

Captain John Walsh led fire crews responding to Brothers Restaurant, 404 Main Street, during the morning of November 23 after the business owner called to report a fire under the food warming unit at the main service counter for the restaurant. Employees knocked the fire down with a fire extinguisher prior to the department’s arrival. Firefighters opened up the counter area and discovered that a grease accumulation under the gas-fired steamers had ignited. The fire did not extend beyond the section of the counter that ignited and there was no smoke damage to the restaurant. The restaurant closed for a short period while the area was cleaned and the affected equipment repaired. There were no injuries as a result of this fire.

Captain Brian Purcell led fire crews to a reported fire at 46 Chestnut Street at noon on November 30. Arriving firefighters found a resident outside who informed them that flames were coming out of a first-floor electric heater just inside the front entrance. Firefighters quickly shut down power to the building and extinguished the fire burning inside an electric heater. The fire was contained to the heater but caused a smoke condition throughout the building. All occupants were able to remain in the building and there were no injuries as a result of this fire. The fire was caused by an electrical malfunction of the wall heating unit.

All groups continued their annual in-service business inspections during November. All department members participated in Emergency Medical Technician training classes during November provided free to the department by Cataldo Ambulance. The department conducted quarterly fire inspections in all schools, nursing homes, lodging houses and hotels during the month of November. Several shifts conducted vehicle extrication training and took part in reviewing the proper use of its multi-gas detectors. All department members reviewed ice water rescue procedures as well as proper precautions to be taken operating fire apparatus during cold weather months during November. All groups conducted drills on the vacant homes on Tarrant Lane scheduled to be razed for an upcoming development. This was an excellent opportunity to allow firefighters to practice search and rescue drills using simulated smoke as well as cutting ventilation holes in roofs using the department’s compliment of chain saws.

Incident Response Report

Fire Prevention Report