Beverly Fire Department

10/15
 

At 0530, the Beverly Fire Department responded for a report of smoke in the building at Shaws Market in North Beverly Plaza. Upon arrival firefighters from Engine 5 found an extinguished fire in a storage area at the rear of the store. Bundles of paper towels were found to have small burn marks that were extinguished by store employees.

Fire investigators determined the cause of the fire to be improper placement of combustible materials on a heating unit overhead. The items reached their ignition temperature and fell to the stock piled below. Damage was confined to one box and two bundles of paper towels. The store opened on time and no one was injured.

Firefighters were clear of the scene at 0700 with a police and fire investigator remaining on scene until 1100.

Chimney Fire

10/14/09

At 1231 on October 14, 2009, the Beverly Fire Department responded to a report of a chimney fire at 81 Corning St. Upon arrival, crews found smoke coming from the chimney, but no apparent source within the home. The homeowner stated that he had a fire in an interior fireplace the evening before, but the fireplace was clear with no debris and all heating appliances were functioning normally.

On the orders of Chief Pierce, Firefighter Patrick Brady raised the aerial of Engine 5 to the roof of the structure so that Lt. James Archibald and FF. Joe Tucker could inspect the chimney and lower chains to remove any debris. After several attempts it was determined that the material was not in a portion of the chimney accessible to firefighters without removing some of the bricks.

Crews from Engine 3 and Engine 1 dismantled a portion of the fireplace uncovering an excess of smoldering creosote and debris that was hidden the firebox and a second flue liner for the appliances in the basement. Once the area was exposed, firefighters removed the burning debris and advised the homeowner that the problems with the chimney needed to be corrected prior to relighting his gas heating appliances in the basement.

The fire seems to have been caused by a buildup of creosote and debris in an area where those materials were not intended to collect. Deterioration of the chimney and fireplace system allowed those materials to collect in the void where the fire from the night before caused them to reach their ignition temperature and burn. The fire was confined to the masonry area and had not yet had a chance to extend to nearby wooden structural areas.

There were no injuries and all units were clear of the scene by 1336.      

Shortly after 1700 on October 11, 2009, the Beverly Fire Department responded to a report of a dumpster fire against the building at 123 Brimbal Ave. Upon arrival, crews found a 30 yard dumpster full of construction materials adjacent to a loading dock with its contents fully involved in fire.

 Initial crews stretched a hoseline to protect the structure and begin extinguishing the fire. After both Engine’s 1 and 5 used all of their tank water to knock down the heavy fire, Engine 1 laid a water supply line across Brimbal Ave to a fire hydrant. Due to the need for a supply line, Beverly Police shut down Brimbal Ave until the line could be shut down.

Fire Investigator, and Incident Commander, Jeff Sirois is on the scene and will investigate the fire. There was no damage to the building but some smoke was drawn inside by air handling units on the roof.

Dive response

10/10/09
 

Shortly after the Open House ended, the Department’s Dive Rescue team was dispatched to the waters behind Periwinkle’s restaurant in Essex for a vehicle in the water. The occupants of the vehicle were safely out of the vehicle and transported to the hospital. The Department responded with its Dive Rescue truck and four divers.

Upon arrival, divers assessed the scene and put two divers in the water to locate the vehicle and assess its condition in the water. Divers Barry Lefavour and Matt Kowalski entered the water and found the vehicle and searched the area around the car. The two divers then attached a recovery strap to the vehicle and connected the strap to a tow cable to facilitate removal of the car.

Once the vehicle was clear of the water, the divers were recovered and the team cleared the scene.

Engine’s 5, 1 and Car 2 responded to a report of a motor vehicle off the highway and into the back yard of 33 Cornell Rd. on Wednesday night around 8 PM. Upon arrival, the crews found a single vehicle had driven off the highway, up an embankment and struck a fence behind 33 Cornell Rd. The operator did not report any injuries but firefighters under the command of Deputy Chief William Petrosino had to use chain saws to remove branches around the vehicle in order for Cross Towing to be able to remove it from the scene.

Another accident occurred 10/9 opposite Brackenbury Ln. A single vehicle with a lone occupant struck a parked car around 100 this morning. The driver was uninjured but both vehicles had to be towed from the scene. The vehicle that was parked on the side of the road was sent into a nearby home but did not cause serious damage. Fire crews stood by until both vehicles were removed from the scene.