September 2023

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 372 emergency incidents during the month of September 2023 including 38 box alarms and 334 still alarms. The department responded to two requests for mutual aid during September, once each to Lynnfield and Saugus. The department received mutual aid nineteen times during September, four times from Lynnfield, three times each from Reading, Stoneham and Woburn, twice from Melrose and once each from Malden, North Reading, Saugus and Wilmington. A crew from Engine 2 led by Lt. Michael Long assisted the Saugus Fire Department at the scene of a structure fire at 116 Main Street during the early evening of September 14.

Wakefield firefighters under the command of Captain John Walsh responded to 462 Main Street at approximately 4:40 A.M. on September 1 after receiving reports of smoke coming from the building at that location. They arrived one minute later to find smoke pouring from the vacant building and reports of homeless people living inside it. Firefighters immediately initiated a search of the building while attempting to locate the source of the smoke. Captain Walsh ordered a second alarm, bringing engines from Reading, Stoneham and Melrose to the fire as well as a North Reading ladder truck. Deputy Purcell responded and assumed overall command of the incident, requesting a Saugus engine and Lynnfield tower ladder to the fire for additional personnel. The fire was eventually found in a basement crawl space in the rear of the building, requiring numerous holes to be opened in the floor to allow firefighters to gain access to it. Firefighters finally gained control of the fire after approximately four hours. A Woburn and Wilmington fire engine and a Malden Ladder covered Wakefield Fire Headquarters during the fire. There were no injuries to civilians, however, three firefighters were treated for minor injuries. Troopers from the State Fire Marshal’s Office worked closely with local police and fire investigators in an effort to determine the cause of the fire, which officially remains undetermined. The building remains vacant but is scheduled for significant redevelopment in the near future.

Crews led by Captain Paul Pronco responded to a reported house fire at 11 Ledgewood Road just before 7 P.M. on September 19. They arrived within two minutes to find that the homeowner had discovered a fire inside a bathroom ceiling fan and had attempted to extinguish it with a portable fire extinguisher. The homeowner’s efforts slowed the fire down and allowed firefighters to quickly extinguish the remainder of the fire. The fire was contained to the bathroom ceiling and fan and the structural supports immediately above them. The cause was determined to be a malfunction inside the ceiling fan which ignited the wooden framing around it. There were no injuries as a result of the fire. The family was displaced for a brief period until the damaged area could be cleaned up and repaired. A Melrose fire engine responded to the scene while a Stonham engine covered Fire Headquarters.

Firefighters under the direction of Captain John Walsh responded to a reported building fire at 51A New Salem Street just after 8:30 P.M. on September 26. Firefighters arrived within three minutes to find a large storage trailer fully involved in flames. The fire was impinging on the electrical service to the trailer, causing a delay in its extinguishment until the Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light Department arrived to cut the power to the trailer. The fire was extinguished a short time later. A trooper from the State Fire Marshal’s Office assisted local police and fire investigators with conducting a cause and origin investigation for the fire. While an exact cause could not be determined due to the damage caused by the fire, the fire was not determined to be suspicious and will remain accidental but undetermined. There were no injuries as a result of the fire. A Reading fire engine assisted at the scene while Stoneham engine covered Wakefield Fire Headquarters.

All groups participated in Emergency Medical Technician training classes including an instructor-led presentation on rescuing and performing CPR on downed firefighters wearing full protective gear. Additional training was conducted on driving emergency vehicles and procedures related to handling terminally ill patients. The department continued to conduct its annual fire safety business inspections during September. All of the department’s ground ladders were examined by an outside vendor and successfully passed a safety inspection in September. All of the department’s fleet of emergency vehicles successfully passed their Registry of Motor Vehicle inspections during September. Department members in need of new fire boots were properly fitted for them in September.

All public and private schools containing children from Kindergarten age and above received at least two fire drills during September. Firefighters from Ladder 1 visited the Children’s Center of Wakefield on Water Street on September 19.

The department acknowledged the events of September 11, 2001 during a brief ceremony presided over by the department’s Chaplain, Reverend Glenn Mortimer, inside the community room at the Public Safety Building. This allowed the on-duty police officers and Firefighters an opportunity to acknowledge the day and remember the sacrifice of the first responders who gave their lives on that day. The Wakefield-Lynnfield Elks invited the Wakefield Police and Fire Departments to an evening candlelight ceremony that was both well-done and moving including music and a brief slide show.

Incident Response Report

Fire Prevention Report