April 2008

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 214 emergency incidents during the month of April 2008 including 34 Box Alarms and 180 Still Alarms. April, particularly the end of the month was very dry and firefighters were kept busy with outside brush and grass fires.

On April 28th Firefighters battled an intense and stubborn chimney fire at a home on Newhall Court. Under the direction of Captain Paul J. Pronco, firefighters were able to confine the fire to the chimney itself, minimizing damage to the home interior.

The fire department responded to 5 mutual aid requests during April, including Melrose (1), Saugus (3), and Lynnfield (1). Wakefield Firefighters assisted Saugus Firefighters in battling a ferocious 3-alarm fire on April 24th that resulted in several occupants being rescued by firefighters over ladders. The department received mutual aid from Stoneham (1) and Melrose (1) during April.

Fire Department activities during the month of April included:

• Training on a new set of air pressure operated rescue-lift bags
• Pre-fire plan tour of the YMCA building renovations and the Rockledge Apartment complex on Bartley Street
• Training with the department’s Boston Whaler rescue boat at Lake Quannapowitt
• Started our annual hose testing program

The department received another generous donation from The Savings Bank in the amount of $2,500.00 that will be used in conjunction with grant(s) to purchase / upgrade the departments hydraulic and air powered rescue tools, aka the “Jaws of Life”. We are grateful for the private support and assistance during these tough financial times.

Firefighter Robert J. Brown was granted a civil service – lateral transfer to the Chelsea Fire Department, effective on April 20, 2008. We wish Firefighter Brown good luck in his new endeavor.

The Wakefield Firefighters Union held their third annual Retirement Party on April 25th. At this event, the department honored recent retirees Captain John F. Brown, Jr. and Firefighter Russell C. Berube. Also recognized for dedicated service where Captain Richard Smith (35 Years), Chief David Parr, Lieut. Kevin Carney, Firefighters Jerry McCullough, Gene Doucette (30 years), Firefighters Tom Curran, John Riley and Rick Cardavelli (25 years) and Firefighter Dan Sullivan (20 years).

Chief Parr (center) and recent retirees FF Russ Berube and Captain John Brown. Photo by Mike Angelo - Wakefield Daily Item

March 2008

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 220 emergency incidents during the month of March 2008 including 38 Box Alarms and 182 Still Alarms. The department continues to be kept busy dealing with a higher than usual number of carbon monoxide detector activations and heating system emergencies.

The fire department responded to 6 mutual aid requests during March, including Melrose (2), Saugus (1), Lynnfield (1) and Stoneham (2). The department received mutual aid from Stoneham on 2 occasions during March.

Fire Department activities during the month of March included:

• Extensive basic training with the 2 new firefighters appointed to the department during February – Firefighters Mercurio and Silva
• Radiological monitoring training provided by the Department of Fire Services – Hazardous Materials Division. This training was taken in conjunction with the Reading Fire Department
• Training with self contained breathing apparatus and our Rapid Intervention SCBA equipment

The department received four generous donations during March totaling $7,000 that will be used in conjunction with grant(s) to purchase / upgrade the departments hydraulic and air powered rescue tools, aka the “Jaws of Life”. These donations were made by the Wakefield Co-Operative Bank, Hobbs Brook Management, the owners of 601 and 701 Edgewater Drive, the Sheraton Colonial Hotel and Sprint-Nextel. We are grateful for this private support and assistance during these tough financial times.

In the area of Emergency Management, we received additional supplies of portable cots and shelter personal hygiene kits. In addition, we met with the Red Cross to survey and certify the Dolbeare School, Woodville School, St. Joseph’s Church and the Americal Civic Center as emergency shelter facilities.

February 2008

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 233 emergency incidents during the month of February 2008 including 55 Box Alarms and 178 Still Alarms.

On Sunday evening, February 17th at 8:50 PM firefighters were called to 39 Melvin Street where they found a working fire burning in a third floor kitchen area. Under the direction of Acting Fire Captain Kevin Carney, firefighters made quick and excellent work of the fire containing it to the rear of the third floor. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire was determined to be accidental.

The fire department responded to 7 mutual aid requests during February, including Melrose (2), Saugus (2), Lynn (2) and Reading (1). The department received mutual aid from Stoneham and Reading during February.

Fire Department activities during the month of February included:

• Review training on our Standard Operating Procedures for water & ice rescue incidents
• Quarterly inspections of nursing homes, schools and lodging houses / hotels
• Training with self contained breathing apparatus and our Rapid Intervention SCBA equipment

J. Riley promoted to CaptainR. Taggart promoted to LieutenantWakefield Fire Lieutenant Joseph G. Riley was promoted to Fire Captain on February 1, 2008. Captain Riley replaces Captain John F. Brown who retired in January. Captain Riley has been assigned as the Fire Prevention Officer. To fill new Captain Riley’s Lieutenant position, Firefighter Robert J. Taggart was promoted to Fire Lieutenant, also on February 1st. Lieutenant Taggart has been assigned to the Greenwood Station on Group # 3.

John T. Mercurio of 47 Oak Street, Wakefield and Clifford P. Silva of 1 Furness Circle Wakefield were appointed Permanent Firefighters effective on February 28, 2008. The new firefighters replace Captain Brown and Firefighter Russ Berube who retired in October of 2007. Their appointment brings the department back to its budgeted authorized number of 46.FF John T. Mercurio appointedFF Cliff Silva appointed

It was with regret that the Fire Department – Dive Rescue Team was disbanded during February, due to budgetary issues. There simply has not been any funding, nor does there appear to be funding in the future for the important and necessary ongoing training required by the Dive Team to remain proficient. The department appreciates the hard work performed by the members of the Dive Rescue Team while it was active.

January 2008

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 224 emergency incidents during the month of January 2008 including 43 Box Alarms and 181 Still Alarms. The department was kept quite busy during January handling the usual calls related to our cold weather, including numerous heating system problems, carbon monoxide alarm activations, and water problems related to frozen and burst pipes.

At 2:09 AM on the morning of January16th, Firefighters on Engine 1 and Ladder 1 under the direction of Captain Paul Pronco responded to a North Avenue parking lot for a motor vehicle fire. Upon arrival, firefighters found a 2003 Ford pick-up truck totally engulfed in flames. As they extinguished the fire they made the grim discovery of the body of a 49-year old Stoneham resident inside the vehicle. The appropriate law enforcement and fire investigation units were called to the scene and this incident remains under investigation.

The fire department responded to 4 mutual aid requests during January, including Melrose (2), and Lynnfield (2). The department did not receive mutual aid in January.

Fire Department activities during the month of January included:

• Review training on our Standard Operating Procedures for chimney fires
• Review locations of new and existing streets
• All of the department’s self contained breathing apparatus was inspected, tested and serviced on January 2nd

Retired Captain John BrownWakefield Fire Captain John F. Brown, Jr. retired from the Wakefield Fire Department on January 10th, 2008 after serving the fire department for 35 years. Captain Brown was appointed a Provisional Firefighter on October 20, 1972; a Permanent Firefighter on November 21, 1972; promoted to Fire Lieutenant on August 23, 1979; and promoted to Fire Captain on June 2, 1983. At the time of his retirement, Captain Brown was the senior Captain in the fire department. We thank Captain Brown for his service and wish him a happy and healthy retirement.

Wakefield Firefighter Joseph Cardarelli was appointed a member of the Massachusetts – Metrofire – Hazardous Materials Response Team in January. We are pleased to once again have representation on this very valuable and important regional resource to the Town of Wakefield.

December 2007

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 233 emergency incidents during the month of December 2007 including 40 Box Alarms and 193 Still Alarms.

The fire department responded to 5 mutual aid requests during December, including Melrose (2), Saugus (2) and Gloucester (1). The response to Gloucester was on December 15th when Wakefield Engine 2 responded to assist the Gloucester Fire department in battling a major fatal fire involving an apartment building and temple in the congested downtown area of the city. Wakefield Firefighters staffing Engine 2 pumped water to the fire from a hydrant on Rogers Street. This was only the second response to Gloucester in our department’s history, the other occurring on February 4th, 1961 when Wakefield Engine 1 responded to a major department store fire in downtown Gloucester, just 2-blocks from the December 15th fire.

Other Fire Department activities during the month of December included:

• Fourth Quarter inspections of Schools, Nursing Homes, and Lodging Houses
• Training on our new Thermal Imaging Camera provided by a generous donation by Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation of Audubon Road

Firefighter Marnie E. Sheeran graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy – Recruit Training Program on December 21, 2007. Firefighter Sheeran started work in Wakefield on December 24th, 2007 assigned to Group 2.

November 2007

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 198 emergency incidents during the month of November 2007 including 33 Box Alarms and 165 Still Alarms.

On Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 1:24 PM the Wakefield Fire Department responded to a 2 alarm fire at 246 Salem Street. This fire, which was started accidentally by a candle, heavily damaged a first floor apartment in a 4-unit apartment building. An aggressive attack by firefighters under the direction of Captain John F. Brown, Jr. kept the fire in the apartment of origin, stopping it before it could spread throughout the building. Although there were no injuries, 12 residents of the building were displaced by this fire.

The department was also busy in November handling a larger than normal number of heating system emergencies and carbon monoxide detector investigations, due mainly to the colder weather and the large number of carbon monoxide detectors in residences as now required by state law.

The fire department responded to 4 mutual aid requests during November, including Melrose (2) and Stoneham (2). The department received mutual aid from 5 communities during November including Reading, Lynnfield, North Reading, Stoneham and Melrose, all needed to assist in fighting the Salem Street fire on November 14th.

Other Fire Department activities during the month of November included:

• Completion of the 2007 Fire Prevention Inspections of commercial properties
• All protective gear was evaluated for proper size and condition

We would also like to acknowledge a very generous gift of $7,000 to the fire department from our friends at the Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation on Audubon Road. It is our hope to use these funds to purchase a new Thermal Imaging Camera.

October 2007

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 177 emergency incidents during the month of October 2007 including 35 Box Alarms and 142 Still Alarms. The fire department responded to 2 mutual aid requests during October, including Reading (1) and Stoneham (1). The response to Stoneham was to a 4-alarm fire in Stoneham Square that occurred on the evening of October 23rd, where Wakefield Lieut. Kevin Carney, and Firefighters Philip Rogers and Chris Crogan played a pivotal role in preventing the fire from spreading to the Stoneham Theatre building, just 2 feet away from the original-main fire building. The department did receive mutual aid once during October, that being from Stoneham.

Firefighter Russell C. Berube retired from the Wakefield Fire Department on October 29, 2007. Firefighter Berube was appointed a Permanent Firefighter on October 28, 1976 and also served as the Superintendent of Fire Alarm and Traffic Signals as well as the department’s Fire Investigator. We thank Russ for his 31 years of service to the Wakefield Fire Department and we wish him a happy and healthy retirement.

Marnie E. Sheeran was re-instated as a Permanent Firefighter effective on October 1, 2007. Ms. Sheeran fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Firefighter Shawn Hudson in July and has been assigned to the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy – Recruit Training Program.

Firefighter Daniel P. Sullivan received a commendation for his quick actions on October 18, 2007. Firefighter Sullivan, off-duty at the time, was the first to arrive at a working kitchen fire at a home on Auburn Street, where he quickly notified the fire department via cell phone, removed an occupant from the home, and then using a garden hose controlled the fire until the arrival of firefighters.

The fire and police departments are grateful to Hartshorne Insurance Co. for once again sponsoring the printing of an updated pocket size Wakefield street and information guide book that has been distributed to all firefighters, police officers and Action Ambulance personnel.

October is traditionally Fire Prevention Month, and firefighters coordinated by Fire Prevention Officer Captain Paul J. Pronco and utilizing a gift from Alcoa-Reynolds Food Packaging Co., once again visited all of the public and private elementary schools with the Fire Safety House, an excellent hands-on fire safety education tool that has been very popular and effective. The department also greeted several school groups that visited the Public Safety Building and Greenwood Fire Station during the month.

Training / Fire Prevention activities completed during October included:

• School Fire Drills in all public and private school facilities
• School evacuation drills conducted at the Dolbeare School and High School
• Massachusetts Firefighting Academy Impact Course “Common Emergencies”
• All 3 pumpers, the aerial ladder truck, and all ground ladders were inspected and tested
• The annual testing of our Hurst hydraulic rescue tools which did reveal problems that need to be addressed ASAP