Fire Chief Scott Wiley reports that the Winthrop Fire Department responded to the Deer Island Treatment Plant on Monday evening for a report of a fire alarm activation that resulted from an overhead electrical motor. No fire or hazardous situation occurred.
At 8:52 p.m. Monday, Winthrop Fire responded to 190 Tafts Ave., the location of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant. The first arriving firefighters reported to the administrative building, where alarms were sounding and a light smoke condition was observed. As is standard, the Boston Fire Department was also notified.
Winthrop Engine 1 immediately began to investigate.
As are their protocols for a facility of this magnitude, the Boston Fire Department sent a full box alarm response to the plant, sending many pieces of Boston Fire apparatus to the scene, including several specialized units. A Boston Fire District Chief, reviewing the fire alarm panel, then struck a second alarm response, sending additional units to the scene.
It took some time to locate the source of the smoke, but it was later determined that the smoke was originating from an overheating second-floor electrical motor. No fire was present, and it was then quickly determined that there was no danger to the facility or surrounding neighborhoods.
Chief Wiley notes that the significant fire response by both agencies is done out of an abundance of caution for such a sensitive, remote facility. Despite the significant fire response of more than two dozen vehicles, there is no danger to the community.
The Town of Winthrop maintains a CodeRED system, and it is used in case of emergencies to quickly notify residents of serious incidents. Residents are strongly encouraged to enroll in the CodeRED notification system by visiting the Town website.