Firefighters prepare to remove woman from vehicle after MVA
The Beverly Fire Department responded to a report of a Motor Vehicle Accident shortly before noon on February 7 in the area of Brimbal Ave at Dunham Rd. Upon arrival, Lieutenant Russell Halloran and Firefighters Glen Sihpol and Keith Rivers of Engine 5 found a two vehicle accident involving a pickup truck and a car. The car, a Dodge Intrepid, was down an embankment into a set of trees at the entrance to the Southbound onramp to rt 128.
Firefighters and EMT's from NorthEast Regional Ambulance worked on the slick snowcovered slope to assess the vehicles operator and place her on a backboard before removing her from the vehicle.
Once removed, the woman was transported to the hospital for further assessment of non life threatening injuries.
Crews remained on scene for approximately 45 minutes until the vehicle was towed from the scene.
The operator of the second vehicle did not require medical treatment.
Off duty firefighter extinguishes fire
Deputy Chief William Petrosino was doing some maintenance work when the fire alarms activated at the Magnolia house on Beverly Commons Drive. After a quick investigation and having a coworker dial 911, he found smoke and hidden orange flames in a utility room on the first floor. He quickly put a hole in the ceiling to expose the flames and doused them with a fire extinguisher.
Upon arrival of firefighters from Engine 5, further inspection uncovered the significance of Deputy Chief Petrosino’s actions. A malfunctioning wire had arced and ignited a plastic electrical box and the adjoining wood joists. Significant charring and heat was indicative of the amount of fire that had the potential of traveling throughout the void space between the first floor ceiling and second floor. Firefighter Tom Lantych worked with a Thermal Imaging Camera and hand tools to remove charred wood from the scene and wet down the remaining area with a fire extinguisher.
“There’s no question in my mind that Deputy Chief Petrosino’s actions stopped a very significant fire from taking place here today” said Deputy Chief Paul Cotter.
An electrician was called to the scene to repair the electrical damage which was confined to a circuit that provided electricity for a Hot Water heater. No-one was displaced by the fire and the structural damage was kept to a minimum. There were no injuries as a result of the fire.
Beverly Firefighter Race for Good Cause Several members of the Beverly Fire Department took part in the Annual Race up Boston Place to benefit the American Lung Association. In the end, the Beverly Fire Department team was top in the Firefighter Team division and several members scored personal bests. Team leader Russell Halloran raced up the 82 flights of stairs in six minutes and seven seconds placing second in his division and 14th overall. Halloran was closely followed by Kevin Smith, Keith Rivers, Michael Halloran, Julie Brady, Jon Palm, Matt Kowalski Dennis Levasseur and Glen Sihpol. Matt Kowalski is currently home on leave from his tour of duty in Iraq. He returns next week. Dennis Levasseur is a Captain with the Salem Fire Department. Tamara Ahoigan Melissa Servizio, Martha Rumble, Tamara Aghoian and Julie Kelly also climbed with the Beverly Team.The team raised $1400 for the American Lung Association.
