Fire Log for Tuesday, July 23 to Sunday, July 29, 2012: Total calls for service: 55 Fire incidents:The Wakefield Fire Department responded to a fire in a gas grill at a Kendrick Road home on Sunday evening. Firefighters responded to 110 Kendrick Rd. at 5:11 p.m. for a call that a fire had started in a gas grill in the backyard of the home. The fire was put out by the homeowners before the Fire Department arrived.  Fire incidents by the numbers: Emergency Medical 35 Motor Vehicle Accident 1 Accidental Alarm 4 Alarm System Malfunction 6 Lock Out 2 Mutual Aid 1 Lock out 3 Grill Fire 1 C-O …

Thanks to a large federal grant, the entire Wakefield Fire Department has spent the last several days training to use aerial ladders. The grant, worth $100,000, was awarded jointly to the Wakefield and Reading Fire Department from the Department of Homeland Security. It pays for three different training modules for the Wakefield, Reading, Melrose and Wilmington Fire Departments to learn the ins and outs and controls of the large high-powered ladders on fire engines. "We've had a lot of turnover in the last five years, so there are a fair number of guys on the force now that haven't had this …

Fire Log for Monday, April 30 to Sunday, May 6, 2012: Total calls for service: 63 Fire incidents: The Wakefield Fire Department responded to one side of a duplex family home on Park Street on May 3rd for a carbon monoxide scare. Firefighters arrived around 1:30 p.m. and detected elevated carbon monoxide levels throughout the house, with the highest reading at 30 parts per million on the second floor. After an investigation, the Fire Department determined the cause of the fire was a malfunctioning gas stove. The occupants were advised to get the stove repaired as soon as possible. The …

Fire Log for Monday, April 16 to Sunday, April 22, 2012: Total calls for service: 60 Fire incidents: The Wakefield Fire Department was called to provide mutual aid to two different towns in the last week - Stoneham and North Reading. Wakefield firefighters first responded to 41 Linwood Street in North Reading on April 16 at 2:01 p.m. for a second alarm fire in a single family home. While one of the engines was on the way to cover North Reading headquarters, it was diverted to help at the scene of the fire. The fire was knocked down shortly after Wakefield's arrival, about 20 mintues after it …

Fire Log for Monday, April 23 to Sunday, April 29, 2012: Total calls for service: 41 Fire incidents: A large fire that consumed a car port and a fence broke out in the backyard of a Daniel Road home on April 29, according to the Wakefield Fire Department. Firefighters responded to 29 Daniel Road around 1:30 p.m. for a report of a structure fire. When firefighters arrived, they found heavy smoke showing in the backyard of the home, and a car port fully involved with flames. The fire was contained to the area of the car port and an adjacent fence. The house sustained some additional heat damage…

Fire Log for Monday, April 2 to Monday, April 9, 2012: Total calls for service: 62 Fire incidents: The Wakefield Fire Department was called to the Dolbeare Elementary School (340 Lowell Street) on April 9 at 11:30 a.m. for a direct call from the school to report a strange gas odor in the building. The building was evacuated of all students, staff and employees. When firefighters arrived, they were told it was less of a "gas" smell than a "burning plastic smell. Firefighters, and gas department employees checked all gas, light, and exhaust vents but could not find an odor in the building. …

Fire Log for Monday, March 19 to Sunday, March 25: Total calls for service: 50 Fire incidents: The Wakefield Fire Department extinguished two different campfires set by youths on Friday afternoon and evening. The Wakefield Police Department reported to the Fire Department on March 30 at 4:49 p.m. that youths had set a campfire in the Breakheart Reservation. The Fire Department was then later called to the woods behind 11 Salisbury Road for a campfire around 9:30 p.m. the same night.  Wakefield Fire Chief Michael Sullivan said the fires were quickly extinguished. "They were both smoldering …

Fire Log for Monday, March 19 to Sunday, March 25: Total calls for service: 65 Fire incidents:A fire that started in a pile of mulch at a Harrison Avenue home spread to the home's back deck, causing extensive damage on March 20. The Wakefield Fire Department responded at 9:30 p.m. to 140 Harrison Ave to find the home's rear deck, stairs, rails and shrub beds involved in a fire. All occupants had exited the home. A ladder truck and two fire engines lead by Lieutenant Tom Purcell and 11 firefighters responded to put out the fire. Firefighters put out the flames and removed the deck from the …

Fire Log for Monday, March 12 to Monday, March 19: Total calls for service: 55 Fire incidents:There were no fire incidents in Wakefield during the last week. Fire incidents by the numbers: Emergency Medical 28 Motor Vehicle Accident 4 Accidental Alarm 4 Alarm System Malfunction 4 C-O Detector 5 Water Problem 2 Smoke Scare 1 Lock Out 2 Mutual Aid 1 Odor of Gas 1 False Alarm 1 Controlled Burning 1 Brush, Grass 1

Fire Log for Monday, March 5 to Sunday, March 11, 2012: Total calls for service: 56 Fire incidents:The Wakefield Fire Department responded to two fires in homes over the last week. On March 7st at 2 p.m., the Wakefield Fire Department responded to 9 Heather Lane for a call for a fire that started in the kitchen. Nine firefighters responded under Captain Joe Riley. When firefighters arrived, they found the house had been evacuated, and there was heavy smoke damage to the kitchen and damage to the exhaust fan. It appeared that a member of the household had burned a pot of food. No one was …

Fire Log for Monday, Feb. 27 to Sunday, March 4, 2012: Total calls for service: 63 Fire incidents:On March 1st at 12:51 p.m., the Wakefield Fire Department responded to 26 Davey Lane for a call that an oven had caught fire. Two engines and nine firefighters responded to the kitchen of a single family home. When the fire department arrived, they found the electrical element in the electric stove had shorted out. The Fire Department disconnected the stove and advised the homeowner to have it fixed. Fire incidents by the numbers: Emergency Medical 38 Motor Vehicle Accident 5 Accidental Alarm 3 …

Fire Log for Thursday, Feb. 23 to Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012: Total calls for service: 35 Fire incidents: The Wakefield Fire Department extinguished a large fire that began in a wood stove on Eaton Street. The fire department responded to 1 Eaton Street at 2:17 p.m. on Feb. 24 for a call that a fire in a wood stove in the kitchen of the home had gotten out of control and escaped from the chimney into the walls. Upon arrival, the fire department found smoke coming from the rear of the home, where the kichen was located. At that time, the fire was still contained to the walls and floor around the …

Fire Log for Tuesday, Feb. 14 to Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2012: Total calls for service: 67 Fire incidents:On February 15 at 7:50 a.m., the Wakefield Fire Department responded to 63 Gould Street for a call that a carbon monoxide detector was sounding. When the fire department arrived, they took a reading of 127 ppm, a very high reading of carbon monoxide in the home. The family was immediately evacuated from the building and the heating system was shut down. During the course of the investigation, fire officials found that someone had hung a cardboard box over the outdoor heating system vent, which …

Fire Log for Tuesday, Feb. 7 to Monday, Feb. 13, 2012: Total calls for service: 46 Fire incidents:The Wakefield Fire Department responded to two calls for small fires in the last week, both in kitchens. The first call was for a small fire at 95 Audubon Road on February 11 at 1:45 p.m. In a 7th floor apartment, firefighters found a potholder that had caught on fire. The apartment and hallway were both vented for smoke damage. The second fire was on February 12 at 10:14 a.m. for a smell of smoke at 27 Fosters Lane. Firefighters found a melted butter dish in the homeowner's dishwasher. The …

Fire Log for Monday, Jan. 30 to Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012: Total calls for service: 51 Fire incidents:The Wakefield Fire Department responded to a fire in a trash barrel on February 1 at 6:11 p.m. at 78 New Salem Street. Acting Chief Captain Paul Pronco said someone had lit a fire in a trash barrel and left the area. Firefirgters quickly put the fire out. Wakefield Fire responded to a call for a group of youths on the roof of the CVS building at 376 Main Street on February 3 at 10:55 p.m. However, police cancelled the call for help just as the Fire Department arrived on the scene. Fire incidents …

Fire Log for Monday, Jan. 23 to Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012: Total calls for service: 56 Fire incidents:The Wakefield Fire Department responded to two calls for mutual aid in the last week, one to Saugus and one to Melrose. The first call was for a working fire at 1 Mason Drive in Melrose, a senior housing facility, on January 25 at 12:09 a.m. Three ended up having to be hospitalized in the blaze, and 100 others were displaced. Read more on Melrose Patch. The second fire was on January 29 at 1:02 p.m. for a working fire at 20 Robinson Street in Saugus. The Wakefield Fire Department stood by for …

Despite increasing costs and a lack of fire inspections at Wakefield businesses, Wakefield experienced no fire-related deaths in 2011, and several large house fires were stopped in time before becoming multiple-alarm emergencies, according to the year end report from Fire Chief Michael Sullivan. "The fire department budget has essentially been level-funded for several years, despite the cost of fuel, equipment repairs and in general, the cost of doing business has increased constantly," said Sullivan in his report. "The department has been relying on grants and private donations to operate on…

Fire Log for Monday, Jan. 16 to Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012: Total calls for service: 55 Fire incidents:The Wakefield Fire Department responded to two calls for mutual aid in the last week, one to Saugus and one to Melrose. The first call was for a working fire at 34 Mount Vernon St. in Saugus on January 17 at 1:06 a.m. Wakefield Fire was called to assist, but ended up standing by for about half an hour before they were released. The second fire was on January 19 at 11:18 p.m. for a reported fire in the Melrose Steele House elderly housing building. Again, the Wakefield Fire Department stood by for…

Fire Log for Monday, Jan. 9 to Monday, Jan. 16, 2012: Total calls for service: 75 Fire incidents:The Wakefield Fire Department responded to two calls for fires in microwaves over the last week. The first incident was on January 11 at 7:20 a.m. Captain Randy Hudson and nine other firefighters responded to 16 Summit Ave for a call of smoke in a single family home. When firefighters arrived, they found the homeowners had already extinguished the actual fire. Firefighters removed the microwave from the kitchen and checked the cabinets for any fire extension. They then vented the smoke from the …

Fire Log for Tuesday, Jan. 3 to Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012: Total calls for service: 54 Fire incidents:On January 7 at 6:05 p.m., the Wakefield Fire Department responded to 100 Foundry Street for a report of an oil spill. A fuel truck parked in a parking lot leaked about 20 gallons of fuel oil before the leak was noticed. Wakefield Fire Chief Michael Sullivan said the spill was "relatively minor," and that no oil entered the water supply or any storm drains. Fire incidents by the numbers: Emergency Medical 32 Motor Vehicle Accident 3 Accidental Alarm 2 System Malfunction 4 Oil Spill 1 Smoke Scare 1…