October 2017

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 332 emergency incidents during the month of October including 36 box alarms and 296 still alarms.

The department responded to four requests for mutual aid during October, twice to Lynnfield and once to Melrose and Stoneham. It received mutual aid twice times during October, once each from Lynnfield and Reading. Lt. Christopher Crogan and a crew from Engine 2 covered a vacant Lynnfield fire station during the early morning of October 30 while firefighters in that community were tied up with multiple emergencies.

A crew led by Lieutenant Sean Curran responded to and completed extinguishment of a fire on the front porch of a residence at 68 Oak Street during the morning of October 4. The fire, caused by the improper disposal of smoking materials, was discovered by a nearby construction crew and reported to the fire department via a passing water department employee. It was partially extinguished by the homeowner prior to the arrival of the department. There were no injuries as a result of this fire and no extension of the fire to the main residence.

Firefighters under the command of Captain Paul Pronco responded to an alarm activation in a manufacturing firm at 431 Water Street during the early evening on October 4. Responding crews arrived to find a light smoke condition inside the building caused by a small fire in some cardboard packaging material. The occupant had discovered and partially extinguished the fire prior to the arrival of the department. Firefighters checked the fire area for extension and finding none, vented the structure of smoke. Fire and smoke damage was limited to the area of origin and there were no injuries as a result of the fire. The cause of the fire was determined to be combustible cardboard material that was inadvertently ignited by a hot shaving from a nearby metal cutting machine.

Wakefield was hit by a heavy rain storm accompanied by high winds during the early morning hours of October 30. The storm caused several power outages including a large area of the North Ward and Montrose sections of town for several hours. Downed trees and large limbs took out power lines, struck homes and blocked streets on Briarwood Lane, Friend Street, Lowell Street, Mackenzie Lane, Park Street, Parker Road and Whittier Road. Wakefield once again benefitted from having its own light department as the employees from the Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light Department worked quickly to restore power outages, in most cases within several hours and in all areas by noon on October 30. Crews from the Department of Public Works worked to quickly clear blocked streets of trees and debris. The department responded to 15 emergencies involving water leaks, arcing wires and downed trees and power lines related to the storm.

Several groups conducted training including roof cutting operations at the vacant property located at 640 Main Street during October. Groups 2 and 3 took part in a class offered by the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy (MFA) on Rapid Intervention Teams (RIT) designed to sharpen their skills with rescuing downed firefighters. This class was offered at the former Hurd School from October 16 to 19. Group 1 participated in a class practicing vehicle extrication techniques at Howe’s tow yard on October 23. The remaining groups will receive this training during November. All four duty shifts participated in another course offered at the Public Safety Building by the MFA on Fire Behavior during October.

Fire and evacuation drills were conducted at all public and private schools in Wakefield during the month of October. A group from American Training visited with firefighters and toured Wakefield Fire Headquarters on October 2. The Fire Prevention Bureau conducted a final inspection of the sprinkler and fire alarm systems at the Hallmark Health office building located at 888 Main Street on October 16. The department participated in an emergency drill at the Genesis Care facility in Wakefield on Bathol Street on October 27. This drill involved a simulated fire in the kitchen area and the subsequent evacuation of the residents of the nursing and rehabilitation center to an outside area of refuge until the situation was resolved. The drill was very instructive to all those who participated. Chief Sullivan gave a fire safety talk on home escape plans to the cub scouts of Pack 722 at their monthly meeting at the First Parish Congregational Church during the evening of October 29.

Incident Response Report

Fire Prevention Report