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PHOTOS: Fire At The Vocational School

Personnel from Wakefield and at least four surrounding towns (Lynnfield, North Reading, Reading and Stoneham) knocked down a fire Tuesday night. Check out some photos from the scene.

On Tuesday night, The Wakefield Fire Department and personnel from several surrounding communities knocked down a fire at the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School that apparently started when a spark ignited some sawdust in a duct. Police and fire were at the scene for over two hours. When the alarm first went off, it disrupted a basketball game at the school. Fortunately, nobody was injured.

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Firefighters Battling Two-Alarm Fire at Vocational School

A two-alarm fire was reported Tuesday evening at the vocational school in Wakefield.

Firefighters are on the scene of a two alarm fire at Northeast Metropolitan Technical High School on Tuesday evening. Several public safety-oriented accounts on Twitter report that the fire started in the carpentry shop area and extended to the roof. The fire was first reported at about 5:30 p.m. In addition to Wakefield, crews from several other communities, including Lynnfield and Stoneham, were called to assist. At one point, flames were reportedly showing from the roof of the school. There was a basketball game going on at the time of the fire and the players and fans were alerted to the fire when the smoke alarms were activated, according to athletic trainer Terri Pillsbury, who was at the game. Everyone got out of the building OK and…

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Electrical Cause Suspected In Wakefield House Fire

Wakefield Fire Chief noted that batteries in smoke alarms had just been changed at the house, potentially saving at least one life.

A check-in with Wakefield Fire Chief Michael Sullivan Monday found that the fire marshal's office believes Sunday morning's fire on Lake Street was accidental and likely electrical in nature. A three-alarm fire around 7:30 a.m. on Sunday morning drew emergency personnel from neighboring communities and inflicted serious damage on a home thought to date to the late 1800s or early 1900s. Sullivan also credited the homeowner, Richard Brown, for having recently changed the batteries in the smoke detectors, saying that in this case, that action may have very well saved the homeowner's life. He noted that Brown was up on the third floor at the time the smoke alarms started going off, and by then, the house was already filled with enough smoke to…

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Fire Rekindled at Destroyed Lake Street Home

Wakefield Fire Department will stay on premises.

Wakefield Fire Department returned to Lake Street Sunday night after the three alarm fire that destroyed the home earlier in the morning rekindled.  At 8:45 p.m., fire officials reported hot spots in the multi-unit residence.  Scanner reports indicated the department was requesting that a detail of one officer and two firefighters remain on the premises for the rest of the night.  The three-alarm fire was first reported this morning at 7:20 a.m., when first floor residents reported hearing a 'crackling noise' and smelling smoke.  Upon arrival, Wakefield firefighters quickly struck a second and third alarm, which brought apparatus from other communities to the scene and to cover the stations.  No injuries were reported. 

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Do You Know Your Fire Safety Tips?

Fire Safety Week runs October 7-13 this year. These tips can help save you or a loved one in the event of a fire.

The Wakefield Fire Department would like to remind the public that fire prevention week is the week of October 7-13,2012.  Fire Prevention Week is sponsored by the National Fire Prevention Association and commemorates with a fire prevention theme the Great Chicago Fire of October 8-9, 1871, which killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, and destroyed 17,000 buildings.  This year’s fire prevention theme is “Have 2 Ways Out”, with a focus on home fire escape planning and having two ways out of every room.  If the first way out is blocked, it is important to have a backup escape route to help make sure everyone gets out safely. In a home fire, getting out fast is the best survival strategy.  Most people don’t realize just how …

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Wakefield Firefighters Graduate From State Academy

Wakefield Firefighters Nolan J. Curran, Patrick J. Jarvis and Michael C. Rowe were among the 67 latest graduates of the state firefighting academy's 60-day Recruit Firefighting Program.

The following is an announcement from the Wakefield Fire Department: State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan, Massachusetts Firefighting Academy Director Edmund M. Walker and Wakefield Fire Chief Michael J. Sullivan are pleased to announce the graduation of Class number 196 of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s 60-day Recruit Firefighting Program.  A graduation ceremony was held at the Massachusetts firefighting Academy’s main campus in Stow on Friday, September 28, 2012.  Marshal Coan said, “This rigorous professional training provides our newest firefighters with the basic skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely.” The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, a division of the Department of Fire Services, offers this training …

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Second Alarm Fire Knocked Down On Anjim Lane

Firefighters from Stoneham, Saugus and North Reading joined Wakefield in knocking down house fire.

Wakefield and firefighters from some other surrounding communities knocked down a two-alarm structure fire Sunday on Anjim Lane. A spokesman for the Wakefield Fire Department told Wakefield Patch that a heavy amount of flames were visible when firefighters first arrived at the scene, and that the house sustained a fair amount of damage. Still, the firefighters did manage to save the dwelling. "It was a very good save by the department. They saved the house," said the spokesman. The fire also drew personnel from Stoneham, Saugus and North Reading.

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