Fire

Winthrop Fire Department Responds to Deer Island for Alarm Activation

jgprcamryn 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

jgprmadelyn 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.

 

###

Winthrop Fire Department Awarded Over $12,000 in Grant Funding for Safety Equipment

jgprmadelyn Fire
Winthrop Fire Department Awarded Over $12,000 in Grant Funding for Safety Equipment

WINTHROP – Chief Scott Wiley is pleased to announce that the Winthrop Fire Department is one of over 300 fire departments across the state to have been awarded a grant as part of the Department of Fire Services Fiscal Year 2023 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program.

The $12,840.79 grant awarded to the Winthrop Fire Department will be used to purchase personal protective equipment and ballistic protection equipment.

The program provides local fire departments with a variety of equipment that makes the dangerous job of firefighting safer. This is the third year that funding has been awarded for this purpose as part of a five-year, $25 million bond bill filed by the Baker-Polito Administration to support firefighter safety and health in the coming years.

Fire departments in Massachusetts were able to apply to this program for 121 different types of eligible equipment, including ballistic protective clothing, thermal protective clothing, gear washers and dryers, thermal imaging cameras, assorted hand tools and extrication equipment, communications resources, hazardous gas meters, fitness equipment and more.

“Every time a firefighter goes to work, they could be asked to rescue a child from a burning building, clean up a spill of hazardous materials, treat a patient with a contagious medical condition, or rush into a hostile event to rescue and treat victims,” said State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey. “This program is absolutely vital to helping fire departments prepare for the vast array of hazards they face today and making sure that firefighters go home safe after every call.”

A complete list of the awards by department can be found here.

###

Winthrop Police and Fire Respond After Recycling Truck Crashes Into Utility Pole

jgprstaff Fire, Police
Winthrop Police and Fire Respond After Recycling Truck Crashes Into Utility Pole

WINTHROP 一 Police Chief Terence M. Delehanty and Fire Chief Scott Wiley report that the Winthrop Police and Fire Departments responded after a recycling truck struck a utility pole this afternoon. 

On Monday, Aug. 8, at approximately 1 p.m., Winthrop Police and Fire were dispatched to the area of Foam Street for a report of a single-vehicle crash. Upon arrival, first responders found that a recycling truck had backed into a utility pole, causing the power transformer to fall to the ground. 

Due to damage to the transformer, there are power outages on Foam Street and on Siren Street up to the Shirley Street intersection.

The Winthrop Fire Department has opened a cooling center for affected residents at the Robert DeLeo Senior Center, 35 Harvard St.

National Grid is at the scene working to restore power. Power is expected to be restored in three hours. 

Foam Street will remain closed while repairs remain ongoing.

No injuries were reported.

The incident remains under investigation by the Winthrop Police Department.

###

Winthrop Police Department Shares Information on Town-wide Internet Outage

jgprstaff Emergency Management, Fire, Police
Winthrop Police Department Shares Information on Town-wide Internet Outage

WINTHROP 一 Chief Terence M. Delehanty and the Winthrop Police Department report that Comcast is currently working to restore internet services in Winthrop in response to a town-wide internet outage. 

Hundreds of Winthrop residents have been dealing with internet outages since approximately 1 a.m. Monday, Aug. 8, due to damage to fiber lines in Revere. 

Comcast is expected to restore internet services sometime Monday afternoon. 

Phone services to most Town buildings are down due to the outage. Residents should be aware that the Winthrop Police Department can still be reached at 617-846-1212.

###

Winthrop Fire Department to Open Cooling Center on Saturday at Senior Center

Benjamin Paulin Emergency Management, Fire
Winthrop Fire Department to Open Cooling Center on Saturday at Senior Center

WINTHROP – As high temperatures continue throughout the region, Chief and Emergency Management Director Scott Wiley reports that a cooling center will be open in town on Saturday, July 23, at the senior center.

The cooling center will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and is open to the public. The DeLeo Winthrop Senior Center is located at 35 Harvard St.

All are welcome to come to the air conditioned facility and can stay as long as the cooling center remains open.

Anyone with questions about the cooling center should call the Winthrop Fire Department at 617-846-3474.

Hot Weather Safety Tips

In addition, the Winthrop Fire Department is advising the public of the following tips for preventing heat-related illnesses:

  • NEVER leave children, adults or pets alone in a closed, parked vehicle.
  • KEEP COOL – Spend as much time as you can in cooler surroundings. Use air conditioners to cool the air.
  • Slow down, avoid strenuous activity. If you are not accustomed to working or exercising in a hot environment, start slowly and pick up the pace gradually. If exertion in the heat makes your heart pound and leaves you gasping for breath, STOP all activity. Get into a cool or shady area, and rest, especially if you become lightheaded, confused, weak, or faint.
  • Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes prior to going out.
  • Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing that will cover as much skin as possible.
  • Plan outdoor games and activities for early morning or evening. Rest often in shady areas to allow your body to recover.
  • Avoid extreme temperature changes.
  • When the temperature is in the 90’s, fans will not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or bath is a better way to cool off.
  • Drink plenty of fluids, even if you do not feel thirsty, and avoid alcoholic beverages, drinks with caffeine and large amounts of sugar—these actually cause you to lose more body fluid.
  • Use your stove less and try to cook your meals in the cooler part of the day.
  • Keep pets hydrated.
  • Although anyone can suffer from heat-related illness at any time, some people are at greater risk than others.
    • Check regularly on: infants and young children, people aged 65 or older, people who have a mental illness, those who are physically ill or who have heart disease or high blood pressure
    • Visit adults at risk at least twice a day and closely watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Infants and young children, of course, need much more frequent watching.
  • Learn the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses and how to treat them.

###