September 2015

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 312 emergency incidents during the month of September including 41 box alarms and 271 still alarms.

The department responded to three requests for mutual aid during September, once each to Lynnfield, Melrose and Saugus. It received mutual aid twice during September, both times from Stoneham. A crew from Engine 2 led by Lieutenant Michael Long assisted the Saugus Fire Department at a fire inside the RESCO plant located at 100 Salem Turnpike during the early morning of September 7. Lieutenant David Shinney and a crew from Engine 2 covered Melrose Fire Headquarters during an extensive brush fire in that community during the afternoon of September 23. A crew from Engine 1 under the command of Lieutenant Joseph Albert covered the Lynnfield South fire station during the afternoon of September 28.

Wakefield firefighters under the command of Captain Randy Hudson responded to a serious motor vehicle accident involving a motorcycle on Route 95 southbound near exit 39 during the morning of September 9. The operator of the motorcycle suffered serious injuries and a Medflight helicopter was requested to transport him to the hospital during heavy rush hour traffic. The helicopter landed at Veteran’s field, where the patient was loaded and transported to a Boston hospital.

Captain Hudson was once again the officer in charge when fire crews were dispatched to 397 Main Street on the morning of September 14 for a strong odor of natural gas within the building. Working closely with employees of the Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light Department, firefighters gained entry into several restaurants in the area, eventually discovering a broken seal on the pipe feeding the gas meter for the Duck Walk restaurant. Gas department employees quickly repaired the leak while firefighters vented the structure of accumulated natural gas.

All fire department apparatus and motor vehicles successfully passed their annual Registry of Motor Vehicle safety inspections during the month of September. The department’s three pumping engines successfully passed their annual pump service tests on September 24. All department groups conducted training evolutions on vehicle extrication and rescue techniques during September. All department groups continue their annual inspections and surveys of businesses located in their assigned districts. The department conducted fire drills in every school building in Wakefield during September. Multi-hazard evacuation drills were conducted in September for the Dolbeare School, the Galvin Middle School and Nazareth Academy.

Veteran Firefighter John M. Riley retired from the Wakefield Fire Department on September 17 after serving more than 32 years. Firefighter Riley was appointed to the department on April 14, 1983 and at the time of his retirement was the senior firefighter assigned to Group 3 under Captain Richard Smith. The department will miss Firefighter Riley’s considerable knowledge and experience. We wish him a long and healthy retirement.

Incident Response Report

Fire Prevention Report