October 2013

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 261 emergency incidents during the month of October including 39 box alarms and 222 still alarms.

The Department responded to six requests for mutual aid during October, twice to Lynnfield, twice to Saugus and once each to Reading and Melrose. It received mutual aid two times in October from Reading. A crew from Engine 2 under the direction of Lieutenant Robert Taggart assisted the Saugus Fire Department at the scene of their working fire at 17 Biscayne Avenue during the early afternoon of October 24 when a brush fire extended to the exterior of a residence at that location. Crews had just returned from that incident when Lt. Phil Preston and a crew from Engine 1 were sent to Lynnfield to help that department battle an extensive brush fire off of Stafford Road.

Firefighters under the command of Captain Randy Hudson assisted employees at Honey Dew Donuts at 386 Main Street control a small fire caused by a toaster oven that was accidentally left on. The fire scorched the area behind the oven and created a minor smoke condition in the restaurant. Captain Richard Smith led fire crews during a small but smoky fire stove fire at 35 Park Avenue during the afternoon of October 30. Fire damage was limited to the stove area however the entire residence suffered considerable smoke damage.

The department conducted fire drills in all public and private school buildings in Wakefield during the month of October. Multi-hazard evacuation drills were also conducted at the Odyssey day School, the Greenwood School, the Wakefield Memorial High School and the Dolbeare School. All department vehicles received their registry sticker inspections during October. All groups received emergency medical training in accordance with their continuing education requirements for Emergency Medical Technician during October.

Fire Prevention week is in October and that brought lots of groups to the department for tours. The Canterbury Children’s School visited Wakefield Fire Headquarters on October 7 and 8. Greenwood School Kindergarten classes visited the Greenwood Fire Station on October 15 and 16. Ladder 1 visited the Children’s Center at 483 Water Street on October 3. A group of pre-school age children and their parents from the Family Resource Network visited Fire Headquarters on October 26.

Veteran Firefighter Eugene D. Doucette Jr. retired from the Wakefield Fire Department on October 2, 2013 after serving the department more than 36 years. Doucette was appointed a Permanent Firefighter on May 5, 1977. Firefighter Doucette was the senior firefighter in the department at the time of his retirement. The department wishes Firefighter Doucette a long and healthy retirement with his family. Firefighter Shane Brown resigned from the department on October 17 to pursue a career with the Cambridge Fire Department. We wish Shane a long and productive career in the fire service.

The department took delivery of 5,600 feet of fire hose as part of a $50,000 grant award from the Department of Homeland Security. This hose will replace worn out hose that has passed its useful service life. The grant paid for 90% of the total cost for this hose.

Incident Response Report

Fire Prevention Report