At 2257 on Friday December 28, Beverly Fire crews responded to a report of a building fire at 324 Cabot St. Upon arrival crews found a light smoke condition and entry had already been forced by the Police Department. According to the log book, inside Lt. Robert Bergeron and Firefighters from Engine 1 found a small fire near the broiler and used a 20 pound dry chemical fire extinguisher to knock down the flames. Damage was minimal and confined to the area around the cooking equipment and the doors where entry was forced. The fire was caused by operating cooking equipment. All Beverly Fire Personnel were clear of the scene at 2357.
Car Fire
At 0313, Engine 5 was dispatched to the area of Rt 128 between exit 21 and 20 for a report of a car fire. Due to the location of the call a Danvers Engine was also dispatched. Upon arrival of the Beverly Engine, the fire had been knocked down by the Danvers crew. Beverly Firefighters assisted the Danvers crew on scene with overhaul operations and extinguishment.
The 1987 Mercedes was then loaded onto a flat bed tow truck Owned and Operated by Cross Towing for removal from the scene. Shortly after the vehicle was removed, Engine 5 was again dispatched for a report of the same vehicle on fire on the tow truck. It was determined that the steam coming off of the vehicle was confused for smoke and that there was no fire.
There were no injuries and the cause of the fire is not currently known.
Crews pull fascia and soffit at 3 alarm fire on Cabot St
3 Alarm Fire at 390 Cabot St
At approximately 1230 on December 26 Beverly Fire Crews were dispatched to 390 Cabot St for multiple reports of smoke coming from the building. Upon arrival Captain Paul Labelle and the crew of Engine 5 found heavy smoke coming from the eaves of the three-story wood frame structure and called for a second alarm.
Crews were initially assigned to perform a search of the first third floor where a woman was reported to be. The search turned up negative and it turned out that no one was home.
Crews from communities across the North Shore descended on the scene as a third alarm was struck. Firefighters worked on the third floor opening multiple layers of ceilings in an effort to expose the fire that was racing through the cockloft. After approximately one hour, conditions began to deteriorate and crews were ordered from the building to initiate an exterior, defensive attack.
With all crews out of the building, crews worked from aerial ladders to remove the fascia and soffit to get to the fire as it began to make its way through the roof. For one hour, fire crews fought the fire from the outside knocking down heavy volumes of fire while the roof structure collapsed. When conditions inside allowed, fire crews reentered the building and resumed their interior attack.
Ultimately, the fire ravaged the entire roof and much of the second floor. Floors below fell victim to significant water damage but no one suffered any injuries. Fire investigators from the Beverly Fire Department and the State Fire Marshal’s Office will investigate the source of the fire.
21 people were displaced from five of the six inhabited units.
Gas Leak Sends Natural Gas into Homes
A call for an odor of Natural Gas in the Home at 15 Atlantic Ave kept crews on their toes Christmas Eve. The call came in at 2154 and firefighters on scene first encountered the gas near a manhole in the street.
Deputy Chief Paul Cotter requested the presence of a Keyspan representative and then ordered his crews to check the homes along the street. Several homes were found to have natural gas seeping into their basements and fire crews were forced to ventilate those structures.
Upon arrival of Keyspan, crews assisted with ensuring levels remained safe and that houses were no longer affected. No one was forced to evacuate, but gas was shut off for repairs to be made.
8 Commended for Rescue Effort
Three Beverly Fire Department Officers and five Firefighters were commended for their actions at the scene of a motor vehicle crash on Common Lane December 12, 2007. Chief Pierce issued the commendations to the members of Group 4 who used the Jaws of Life to remove a victim from a horribly disfigured car after a frontal impact with a tree.
At 0115 on December 12, Engine’s 5 and 3 were dispatched to the area of 204 Common Lane with Deputy Chief Walsh for a report of a motor vehicle accident. At the scene they found a single vehicle wrapped around a tree with one semi conscious victim trapped in the car. “Upon my arrival and initial assessment, I was amazed to see that the victim was still alive,” stated Deputy Chief William Walsh. “Basically the victim was encased in metal,” he continued. The crews responding immediately put three different hydraulic rescue tools into service in an effort to free the man who was suffering from obvious, significant traumatic injuries. For roughly forty minutes, the eight firefighters worked to free the victim while Paramedics from Northeast Regional Ambulance assessed him and Beverly Police Officers secured the scene. Ultimately the victim was freed despite the tremendous amount of damage to the passenger compartment and the wet, icy conditions that crews faced during the extrication process. Once removed, the driver was transported to Beverly Hospital for further treatment. “All three agencies working at the scene worked as one to get the job done,” added Walsh “the professionalism of the Police Officers and Paramedics that worked at the scene can’t be understated”. The recognized members of the Beverly Fire Department are: Deputy Chief William Walsh Lieutenant William Reilly Lieutenant Donald Philpot Firefighter Steve White Firefighter Peter Davis Firefighter Michael Cronin Firefighter Robert Josselin Firefighter Paul Roberts
Chief Pierce Commends Dispatchers
Chief Rick Pierce delivered commendation letters to two Fire Alarm Operators who coordinated a massive equipment movement during the 8 alarm Gloucester fire on December 15.
Fire Alarm Operators Courtney Price and Timothy Price drew mutual aid equipment from across the entire County as well as State resources, in order to meet the demands of the incident scene.
“The Fire Alarm Office was faced with the task of moving a tremendous amount of apparatus from throughout Essex County, into the City of Gloucester”, said Pierce “The efficient coordination of so many multiple agencies and resources responding to the scene is something you should be proud of.”
Tim Price has been with the Department since 1982. Courtney, Tim’s daughter, became a Fire Alarm Operator in 2003.
Smoke Condition in Endicott Library
On December 23, Engine’s 3,5 and Ladder 1 responded to a fire alarm activation in the Library at Endicott College. Upon arrival crews investigated a smoke condition in the building. Using Thermal Imaging Cameras, crews were able to locate a burned out fan in the HVAC system. The system was shut down and fire crews used a fan to remove the smoke from the building.
Grill Cover Causes Smoke
On December 22 Crews responded to a report of an exhaust fan fire at 183 West St. Upon arrival Engine 3 found a slight smoke condition caused by a burnt grill cover. The crew of Engine 3 dismantled a portion of the exhaust vent in order to check for wire extension inside the vent, none was found.
Microwave Malfunction
On December 22, fire crews responded to 8 Commons Dr for a report of an odor of burning. When Engine 5 arrived, they traced the odor to a burnt out microwave. Crews disconnected the microwave and removed it to the outside.
Oven Fire Extends
On December 20 Group 1 responded to a report of an oven fire extending to the kitchen. When Deputy Chief Acciavatti arrived, he found fire lapping from a built in stove to the surrounding cabinets. Deputy Acciavatti used 2 21/5 dry chemical extinguishers to keep the fire in check until Engine 1 arrived and advanced a hose line to knock down the remaining fire. When the visible flames were knocked down, the crews removed the oven and dug out fire that was burning in the oven’s cabinet.No one was displaced, but Northeast Ambulance transported one occupant to the hospital for smoke inhalation.
New firefighter gets work on first shift
Firefighter Bill Moran started his first duty shift Thursday morning December 13 at 0700. Around 1300, he was responding to his first fire. Companies responded to a report of a building fire at 71 Hale St. Upon arrival, Deputy Chief Bill Petrosino found a fire and smoke condition on the second floor. Crews extended 200 feet of hose and knocked down the fire then opened ceilings and walls to check for fire extension.
Minor extension was found and extinguished.
View of Middle St Gloucester
Engine 3 responds to Gloucester
Engine 3 responded to the scene of the 8 alarm fire in Gloucester. The crew laid 800 feet of 4 inch supply line and watched for flying brands to ensure the fire did not extend past Middle St
Cats Tail Spreads Fire
Beverly Fire crews responded to a report of a fire at 79 Hale St. On arrival Deputy Chief William Petrosino ordered a line stretched to the second floor where he found a small contents fire. Crews from Engine 1 quickly had the fire under control and confined to the room.
Deputy Chief Walsh investigated the fire and determined through witness accounts that a cat’s tail caught fire after coming into contact with a candle then as the cat moved, the tail ignited other combustibles in the room. The cat survived with a little less fur on its tail
Crews work to free injured driver
In the midst of two medical calls, the Beverly Fire Department was dispatched to a Motor Vehicle Accident in the area of 204 Common Ln. Engine 5 responded to the scene with Deputy Chief Bill Walsh to find a single passenger trapped in a car that was off the road. Crews immediately began to dismantle the car with the Jaws of Life.
A second Engine, Engine 3, responded to the scene after clearing their Medical call and used a second set of Jaws to assist in the rescue effort. Damage was so severe, that both crews worked for 40 minutes cutting and spreading twisted metal in order to free the man.
Once removed, the man was taken to the hospital for treatment of his injuries
A three vehicle accident resulted in one vehicle on its side
At approximately 3pm on Thursday December 6, 2007, the Beverly Fire Department was dispatched to the area of route 128 South between Exits 18 and 17 for a report of a motor vehicle accident involving at rollover. At the time Captain Michael McCadden was traveling Southbound on route128 in traffic. Within a minute of the dispatch, Captain McCadden was on scene assessing the vehicles and checking the status of the two injured operators. Captain McCadden found three vehicles involved in the accident. The first vehicle was on its side; the second was upright with significant front end damage and the third suffered damage but was also upright.
The next arriving Fire Department unit, Engine 4, arrived to assist Captain McCadden and paramedics from North East Regional Ambulance with two operators who were complaining of injuries after the crash. Both were tended to at the scene, and then transported to local hospitals.
Beverly and State police were also on the scene of the accident which reduced traffic flow to a single lane.
Retired Danvers Firefighter Albert Petronzio pins the duty badge onto his son, Albert Jr, after being appointed to the Beverly Fire Department
The Beverly Fire Department held a swearing in ceremony today for three promoted officers and two newly appointed firefighters. The officers, Acting Deputy Chief Mike Acciavatti, Captain Paul LaBelle, and Lieutenant Eric Fowler were all promoted as of September 17. Firefighters Albert Petronzio and William Moran, both Iraq War veterans, were sworn in as the Department’s two newest firefighters. They have been undergoing two weeks of orientation training that will culminate tomorrow with a training exercise that will compile all of their training. Both have been assigned to permanent duty groups beginning next week
Fall Injury requires Medflight
A December 6 medical aid for a person who fell approximately 15 feet required victim to be transported by a Medflight Helicopter. The man apparently fell outside of his home and suffered significant injuries. Crews on scene requested the aid of a Helicopter which landed at DixPark to transport the victim to Boston.
