Fire

As Severe Weather Persists, The Town of Winthrop Extends Outdoor Fire Restrictions

Camryn Langille Fire
As Severe Weather Persists, The Town of Winthrop Extends Outdoor Fire Restrictions

518 Fires Have Burned More Than 1,500 Acres in Massachusetts Since Oct. 1

With outdoor fuel sources extremely dry and no meaningful precipitation expected, Winthrop Fire Chief Scott Wiley and municipal leaders are extending restrictions on any outdoor fires at least until Friday, Nov. 29.

“This has been an unprecedented fall fire season in Massachusetts,” said Chief Wiley. “The current and expected weather conditions mean that any outdoor fire is likely to spread quickly and become difficult to control. In Winthrop, those fires could easily spread to homes and other properties.”

Burning yard waste is already prohibited across Massachusetts through Jan. 15 and year-round in some communities under 310 CMR 7.07, the Open Burning regulation. The local fire restriction additionally restricts the outdoor use of fire pits, chimineas, candles, cooking/heating equipment, and other ignition sources under Section 10.10.2 of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code. The Code grants fire officials the authority to prohibit any and all open flames and other ignition sources under certain hazardous conditions, including extreme drought. About 200 Massachusetts municipalities have imposed these prohibitions.

Any requests for permits for outdoor fires, hot work such as cutting/grinding, and other activities will be decided in light of the ongoing fire risk.

All of Massachusetts, including Winthrop, is facing an unprecedented fall wildfire season. While the state averages 15 to 20 fires a month in October and November each year, local fire departments have reported more than 500 fires since Oct. 1. These fires have burned more than 1,500 acres – rivaling average statewide totals for an entire year. Many of these fires have damaged homes and other properties, and they are taxing local and regional firefighting resources.

According to Chief Wiley, the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services, and the Department of Conservation & Recreation’s Bureau of Forest Fire Control & Forestry, almost all of these fires start with human activity and can be prevented by limiting outdoor activity that involves open flames, sparks and embers, hot engines or gasoline from power equipment, and other ignition sources.

Chief Wiley recommended the following fire prevention strategies during this period of severe fire risk:

  • Follow local and state guidance on outdoor ignition sources. Remember that burning yard waste is prohibited statewide through January and in many communities year-round. Many cities and towns have implemented temporary restrictions on any outdoor fires until conditions improve.
  • Refrain from outdoor cooking and heating. Sparks and embers from chimineas, fire pits, and grills can easily ignite dry vegetation, debris, and overhanging branches.
  • Use caution with lawnmowers, leaf blowers, all-terrain vehicles, and other power equipment. Hot engines, sparks, and spilled gasoline can ignite dry leaves and grass.
  • Dispose of ashes from fireplaces and wood stoves in a metal can, douse them with water, and cover them with a tight-fitting lid. These ashes can remain hot enough to ignite combustibles long after the fire goes out: never dump them outdoors or in the trash.
  • Extinguish smoking materials in a sturdy ashtray with water or sand. Never toss cigarette butts, matches, or other smoking materials over the edge of a balcony, stub them out on stairs or railings, or toss them in dry vegetation or debris.

“The faster we hear about a fire, the better chance we have of safely extinguishing it,” said Chief Wiley. “If you see smoke or flames, please call 9-1-1 right away so we can protect you, your neighbors, and our community.”

 

Turn Back Your Clocks, Check Your Smoke Alarms; Daylight Saving Time Ends Nov. 3

Camryn Langille Fire
Turn Back Your Clocks, Check Your Smoke Alarms; Daylight Saving Time Ends Nov. 3

Daylight Saving Time (DST) ends Sunday, Nov. 3 at 2 a.m. and clocks will move back one hour.

Properly installed and maintained smoke alarms are vital in reducing deaths and injuries caused by fire. They give everyone in the home an early warning and time to escape.

Be prepared, turn your clocks back one hour, and check your smoke and CO alarms.

For more information about smoke/CO alarm safety, visit the National Fire Protection Agency’s website

Stay Safe this Halloween

Camryn Langille Fire
Stay Safe this Halloween

The night of Oct. 31 is quickly approaching. Children will be out trick-or-treating, and everyone should take precautions to keep Halloween a safe event. From wearing appropriate attire to checking your children’s candy to driving safely, everyone plays a role on this holiday.

Young children should always be accompanied by responsible adults and parents and guardians should set clear rules and expectations for older children who are going out alone. If you’re out driving on Halloween night, please take extra precautions and give yourself extra time to get wherever you’re going.

For tips about costumes, candy and more from the Food and Drug Administration, visit: https://tinyurl.com/HalloweenFDA

For tips about Halloween driving safety from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, visit: https://tinyurl.com/HalloweenNHTSA

Winthrop Fire wishes everyone a safe and happy Halloween!

Thank You, First Responders!

Camryn Langille Fire, Police
Thank You, First Responders!

National First Responders Day honors all the men and women who respond to emergencies to ensure the public’s safety — paramedics, EMTs, firefighters, police officers, and 911 operators. These workers sacrifice their time and risk their personal safety to protect citizens, and National First Responders Day is an opportunity to recognize their bravery and heroism. On behalf of the entire department, we extend our appreciation and support to the first responders working to keep our community safe.

Winthrop Fire Department Responds to Deer Island for Alarm Activation

Camryn Langille Fire
Winthrop Fire Department Responds to Deer Island for Alarm Activation

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.

Winthrop Police Officer Assists Choking Infant

jgprrobert Fire, Police
Winthrop Police Officer Assists Choking Infant

WINTHROP — Police Chief Terence Delehanty and Fire Chief Scott Wiley report that a Winthrop Police officer assisted a choking baby on Tuesday just minutes after completing CPR refresher training.

On Tuesday, Feb. 20, at approximately 11:09 a.m., the Winthrop Police and Fire Departments were notified by 911 call that a 1-month-old infant was choking at a home on Sunset Road.

Winthrop Police and Firefighters responded immediately. Officer Robert Jaworski, a 30-year veteran of the Winthrop Police Department, was first to arrive on scene.

Officer Jaworski, who had just left his CPR refresher training approximately 10 minutes before, used his training and experience to dislodge a substance from the child’s throat, allowing the child to breathe.

The child and a parent were then transported to Massachusetts General Hospital for evaluation.

“Officer Jaworski’s prompt response and application of back thrusts to the unresponsive infant were nothing short of extraordinary, and undoubtedly played a crucial role in ensuring the baby’s well-being,” said Chief Wiley.

“The professionalism, courage and skill shown by Officer Jaworski in a critical moment was truly commendable,” said Chief Delehanty. “Winthrop is incredibly fortunate to have dedicated and compassionate first responders like Officer Jaworski patrolling our streets and ensuring the safety of our residents.”

Winthrop Officials Meet with Action Ambulance Leaders

jgprrobert Emergency Management, Fire, Police
Winthrop Officials Meet with Action Ambulance Leaders

WINTHROP 一 Town Manager Anthony Marino, Town Council President Jim Letterie, Fire Chief Scott Wiley, and Police Chief Terence Delehanty report that leaders from the Town of Winthrop met with Action Ambulance Service Inc. on Monday afternoon to discuss emergency medical services and ambulance services in Winthrop.

Chief Wiley noted that the town has been satisfied with Action Ambulance’s services, which contractually include keeping two ambulances in the Town of Winthrop to respond to medical emergencies.

The Massachusetts Office of Emergency Medical Services is investigating Friday’s incident in which an ambulance was not available to respond to an emergency call for a child in cardiac arrest, and Action Ambulance and the Town of Winthrop are both cooperating fully with that ongoing investigation.

A preliminary analysis of the facts and circumstances show that both Winthrop Ambulances were attending to other patients who were Winthrop Residents and transporting them to area hospitals.  No other mutual aid ambulances were available.  The mutual aid system, which Action must provide ambulances to under state law, has repeatedly pulled ambulances based in Winthrop out of town for calls in other communities, leaving the town with fewer than two ambulances to respond to calls at times.

Under state law, if an Action ambulance stationed in Winthrop is needed at a medical emergency in another community, Action Ambulance cannot decline the call. Action is also prohibited by state law from prioritizing calls for service once an ambulance has been dispatched. Likewise, ambulance services in other communities cannot decline to send ambulances to Winthrop if they are available.

Participants in the meeting discussed potential ways to improve the mutual aid system and to improve cooperation between Action Ambulance and other local ambulance services.

Participants also agreed to work together on staffing issues and on identifying additional resources that can be diverted to emergencies.

Next steps will include reaching out to state and legislative leaders to start discussions on how to solve issues with the mutual aid system.

“Our community is eager for information, and I want to thank Action Ambulance for their honest and open dialogue today,” Town Manager Marino said. “Our hearts collectively pour out for the family in mourning today, and we pledge to be open and transparent with our residents and with state officials.”

Three Winthrop Firefighters Graduate from Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s Career Recruit Program

jgprstaff Fire
Three Winthrop Firefighters Graduate from Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s Career Recruit Program

WINTHROP – Chief Scott Wiley is pleased to announce that three Winthrop firefighters graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy (MFA) on Dec. 8.

Firefighters Matthew Amabello, Jarret Herdt and Aileen Kane were among the 30 graduates from 17 fire departments to graduate from the Academy’s Career Recruit Firefighter Training Program Class #316. The graduates completed the 50-day Career Recruit Firefighting Training Program at the Stow campus.

The graduation ceremony was attended by Chief Wiley, other members of the department and the recruits’ families and friends.

“On behalf of the entire department, I would like to recognize Firefighters Matthew Amabello, Jarret Herdt and Aileen Kane on their graduation from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy Career Recruit Program,” said Chief Wiley. “These graduates are now well-prepared to serve the Winthrop community and we look forward to welcoming them to the department.”

The program teaches the essentials of fire and non-fire conditions, life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation and fire attack. The graduates are now certified at the level of Firefighter I and II and in hazardous material operation.

“Massachusetts firefighters are on the frontlines protecting their communities every day, and today’s graduates are needed now more than ever,” said State Fire Marshal Davine. “The hundreds of hours of foundational training they’ve received will provide them with the physical, mental, and technical skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely.”

The other 27 graduates represent the fire departments of #316 represent the fire departments of Amesbury, Bedford, Boxborough, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Middleborough, Nantucket, North Reading, Northborough, Norwell, Peabody, Revere, Sharon, Stoneham, and Sudbury.

About The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy:

At the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, firefighter recruits learn a wide range of skills in an intensive 10-week program. Certified and more experienced firefighters lead classroom instruction, physical fitness training, firefighter skills training and firefighting practice. Students are given training in public fire education, hazardous material incident mitigation, flammable liquids, stress management, confined space rescue techniques and rappelling. Upon successful completion of the Recruit Program, all students have met national standards of National Fire Protection Association 1001.

###

Winthrop Fire and Police Respond to Four-Alarm Apartment Complex Fire

Kayla Rochon Fire, Police
Winthrop Fire and Police Respond to Four-Alarm Apartment Complex Fire

WINTHROP – Deputy Fire Chief Stephen Calandra and Police Chief Terence Delehanty report that the Winthrop Fire and Police Departments responded to and extinguished a four-alarm fire this afternoon. 

On Friday, April 21 at 12:18 p.m., Winthrop Police and Fire received reports of a fire at a multi-unit apartment building at 91 Veterans Road.  

Upon arrival, crews observed heavy smoke and fire coming from the building, and multiple residents actively trying to escape. Crews quickly struck a second alarm to request mutual aid.

Crews worked aggressively to extinguish the fire and struck a fourth alarm calling additional mutual aid to the scene. Multiple residents were entrapped and have since been safely rescued from the building. 

Three residents were transported to local hospitals for injuries that are not believed to be life threatening. Approximately 110 people are displaced and are being assisted by Red Cross.

Lynn Fire, Chelsea Fire, Malden Fire, Saugus Fire, Revere Police and Fire, Massachusetts State Police and the Massachusetts Port Authority provided mutual aid at the scene. 

Veterans Road remains closed to Shirley Street and Hadassah Way. Coral Road has been reopened.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by Winthrop Fire Department and the State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit attached to the State Fire Marshal’s Office. 

###

Winthrop Fire Department Receives State Grant for Fire Education Programs

Fire
Winthrop Fire Department Receives State Grant for Fire Education Programs

WINTHROP – Chief Scott Wiley  is pleased to announce that the Winthrop Fire Department was awarded a grant to support its fire education programming in the community.

The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services awarded Winthrop Fire $4,381 for its Student Awareness of Fire Education (S.A.F.E.) Program and $2,277 for the Senior S.A.F.E. Program.

The funding gives the department the opportunity to work directly with students in schools and seniors to educate them about fire safety and prevention. Each program is tailored to the common needs of each age group and includes general fire prevention reminders and safe practices in the home. Lessons feature many safety topics including steps to take if a fire alarm goes off. 

The lessons taught in the school-based program are in line with the standards of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Health Curriculum Frameworks and the state Department of Fire Services Curriculum Planning Guidebook.

Twenty-seven years after the introduction of the S.A.F.E program within schools, the rate of annual child fire deaths has decreased by 78%, according to the state’s Department of Fire Services, which administers the two programs. 

To learn more about the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services’ S.A.F.E  program, click here.

 

###