September 2017

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 324 emergency incidents during the month of September including 36 box alarms and 288 still alarms.

The department responded to three requests for mutual aid during September, twice to Lynnfield and once to Melrose. It received mutual aid twelve times during September, four times from Stoneham, three times from Lynnfield, twice from Reading and once each from Melrose, North Reading and Woburn. Lt. Christopher Crogan and a crew from Engine 1 covered a vacant Lynnfield fire station during the afternoon of September 26 while firefighters in that community were tied up with emergencies. A crew from Engine 2 led by Lieutenant Michael Long responded to a structure fire at 85 Grove Street in Melrose during the afternoon of September 27 that took the life of an adult occupant.

Firefighters under the direction of Captain Randy Hudson responded to a report of an overturned boat in Lake Quannapowitt around noon on September 1. Firefighters quickly launched the department’s fire boat and rescued the two occupants who had been in the water approximately 20 minutes. The mast of the sailboat had become stuck in the mud at the bottom of the lake and was later retrieved by members of the Quannapowitt Yacht Club. Windy condition and choppy waters made the rescue of the boaters as well as the recovery of the sailboat more challenging.

Firefighters under the command of Captain Paul Pronco responded to a reported structure fire in an apartment building at 123-125 Water Street during the evening of September 4. Crews arrived to find heavy smoke pouring from the building and fire showing from several windows at the rear of the six unit apartment building. A second alarm was struck for manpower bringing crews from Melrose, North Reading, Reading and Stoneham to the scene. The fire was located and primarily contained to a second floor apartment at the rear of the building. The entire apartment suffered heavy fire and heat damage with the remainder of the building sustaining smoke damage. Sadly, the sole occupant of the apartment, an elderly woman, was not able to escape and died at the scene. An investigation determined the cause to be accidental, most likely due to the ignition of bedding from smoking in bed. There were no other injuries as a result of this incident. A Woburn Engine and a Lynnfield ladder truck covered Wakefield Fire Headquarters during the fire. The building has been deemed structurally sound and can be repaired. Occupant of four of the apartments will be displaced for an extended period while repairs are made.

Firefighters under the direction of Captain Randy Hudson responded to a reported gas leak inside the Dolbeare Elementary School during the morning of September 29. The leak, caused by a control knob on a kitchen stove that was inadvertently turned on, created a strong odor of gas inside the kitchen, cafeteria and adjoining first and second floor areas. Responding firefighters quickly shut down the release of gas and then extensively ventilated the entire area, mitigating the hazard. School officials evacuated the building while the situation was brought under control. Wakefield Municipal Light and Gas Department and Department of Public Works employees responded to the school and assisted in controlling the situation. Children were allowed back into the school within approximately 30 minutes. Close cooperation between firefighters, school officials, DPW workers and members of the Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light Department quickly resolved a potentially dangerous situation.

Fire drills were conducted at all public and private schools in Wakefield during the month of September. All department vehicles passed their annual Registry of Motor Vehicle safety inspections during September. Several department groups conducted training including roof cutting operations at the vacant property located at 640 Main Street at the end of September. A crew of firefighters from Engine 2 visited with a group of fifth-graders at the Galvin Middle School on September 25.

Incident Response Report

Fire Prevention Report