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WFD in the News
02/12/09
Newton — A devastating three-alarm fire broke out in a two-family home in Nonantum early this morning, sending two residents and three firefighters to the hospital.
The fire at 104-106 Los Angeles St. started in the first floor on the 106 side of the three-family building at about 6 a.m. Thursday. Two occupants of that side of the building, Mary Doherty, 48, and Donovan Doherty, 21, were being treated at Mass General for smoke inhalation, according to Mary’s niece Sunny McDonough. They are in fair condition, according to a hospital spokesman.
Three firefighters were also taken to area hospitals, one with serious injuries. Richard Busa was treated at Beth Israel after falling from the building's attic through the second floor to the first floor, according to firefighter union president Tom Lopez. Busa was released and but will have further evaluation, Lopez said. Two other firefighters were treated at Newton-Wellesley hospital for minor injuries.
Yasmin Chowdhury, who lives in the 104 side of the building, was the first to see the fire. She had a job interview Thursday morning with Sovereign Bank in Brookline and was awake in her bedroom at 6 a.m. when she saw smoke out her window.
“I was afraid,” Chowdhury said. “My husband and son and daughter were sleeping, it was only me … I didn’t grab anything, not even my wallet, I just got my phone and went outside.”
Chowdhury saw the blaze burning through the living room of 106 and got her family – her husband, Abu Parvez, her 8-year-old son Priyak Parvez and her 16-month-old daughter, Yanka Chowdhury – outside. She called 911 in hysterics, waking up the neighbors in the process.
“I didn’t know what it was, I heard screams and didn’t know if someone was getting shot or killed or what,” said Sean Tresca, who lives next door at 100 Los Angeles St. “Then I could see the smoke, it was unbearable.”
“I’m glad she made so much noise,” said Sue Tresca, Sean’s mother. “It happened very quickly – that everyone made it out is a lucky turn of events.”
Other neighbors quickly came to the scene.
“I came right out, I could smell it,” said Danny Rooney, who lives nearby on Jasset Street. “There was mad smoke.”
Mary Doherty’s other sons Collin and Harry safely made it out of the house, but Donovan burned himself pulling his mother out, neighbors said.
All 10 fire trucks responded to the blaze, Leone said, and trucks from Brookline, Waltham, Watertown, Wellesley and Weston provided station coverage. The fire was extinguished by 11 a.m., and investigators are still searching for its cause, which appeared to be accidental, Leone said.
The right side of the building was scorched from the basement apartment to the attic, and burned tiles littered the ground. Inside appeared to be a total loss. McDonough said she will set up an account for donations for her aunt and cousins, and could be reached at 617-838-0655. Local Red Cross members were also at the house assisting residents and giving out debit cards for food and clothing, and Mayor David Cohen spent an hour at the scene.
Parvez said his children’s clothes were gone, as was Chowdhury’s jewelry inherited from her family in Bangladesh.
“All my favorite things, all my memories … they’re gone,” Chowdhury said.
But worse, she said, was losing a home in an area that the family had loved for the past two years. Her son loves school at Lincoln-Eliot and being with people in the neighborhood, she said.
“This is the best place, neighbors are like family,” Chowdhury said. “My son would say ‘I like this place, can we stay here forever?”
Link to the story from Wicked Local Newton Posted Feb 12, 2009 @ 02:40 PM By Dan Atkinson/Staff Writer
01/29/09
Newton - A 16-year-old Brookline resident lost control of his 2003 Toyota Highlander this afternoon, and was taken to the hospital after it jumped the median and struck a car traveling northbound.
Though the accident closed a lane of Route 128 for nearly an hour as emergency responders cleared the area, no one suffered life-threatening injuries, according to State Police, which responded to the scene along with the Newton Fire Department.
“We are very fortunate there are no serious injuries,” said Lt. Eric Anderson, State Police spokesman.
The accident occurred at 3 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon, following severe icing throughout the state.
“Route 128 should have been clear by then,” said Anderson, who doesn’t think highway conditions played a role in the accident.
Waltham resident Erin Coffey, 26, was driving northbound near Grove Street, when the Highlander jumped the median and struck her car.
Both were taken to Newton-Wellesley Hospital with minor injuries.
“The accident remains under investigation,” Anderson said.
Link to the story from the Brookline Tab on Thu Jan 29, 2009, 06:40 PM EST By Chrissie Long/GateHouse staff writer
01/29/09
NEWTON —The driver of a 2003 Toyota Highlander was one of two people taken to the hospital yesterday afternoon after his SUV jumped the median and struck a car traveling northbound on Rte. 128 near the Grove Street exit, state police said.
Though the accident closed a lane of Rte. 128 North for nearly an hour after the 3 p.m. accident, no one suffered life-threatening injuries, according to state police, who responded to the scene along with the Newton Fire Department.
"We are very fortunate there are no serious injuries," said state police spokesman Lt. Eric Anderson.
"Rte. 128 should have been clear by then," said Anderson, referring to ice on many Massachusetts roads, saying he doesn't think highway conditions played a role in the accident.
A 16-year-old Brookline resident who was traveling southbound on Rte. 128 in the 2003 Highlander, was taken to Newton-Wellesley Hospital along with 26-year-old Waltham resident Erin Coffey, who was traveling northbound when her vehicle was hit. Both suffered minor injuries
"The accident remains under investigation," Anderson said.
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Posted Jan 29, 2009 @ 09:58 PM By Chrissie Long/Gatehouse News Service
01/15/09
WALTHAM (WBZ) ? Police shut down the ramp to let the fire burn itself out.
A wire fire backed up traffic on Route 128 during rush hour in Waltham Thursday morning.
A high voltage wire came down and burst into flames on the Winter Street off ramp from 128 south just before 8 a.m.
Police shut down the ramp to let the fire burn itself out on the ground.
There are no reports of any injuries.
It's not clear yet how the fire started.
Link to Story from the WBZ.com on Jan 15, 2009
01/05/09
Several people spent hours on Monday trying to rescue a wayward deer in Waltham.
The deer was stuck on the frozen waters of the Cambridge Reservoir.
It was first spotted around noon-time and rescue efforts continued well past 3:30 p.m.
The fire department assembled a team with a raft that worked their way out onto the ice to bring the deer back to land.
The deer was not trapped, but was having a very difficult time walking, so rescue crews had to swoop in and save the animal.
The deer is being monitored to see if it will be able to be released back into the wild.
Link to Story from the WBZ.com on Jan 5, 2009
01/02/09
NEWTON —A three-alarm fire heavily damaged a Woodward Street home New Year's Day, injuring seven firefighters. No residents were hurt.
Fire companies from Newton and Waltham responded to a single-family home at 448 Woodward St. in Waban at about 9:20 a.m. Thursday. According to police reports, the homeowner woke up to smoke detectors going off and discovered heavy smoke throughout the house. He went to the basement and saw flames and smoke, and the fire appeared to have spread up through the walls on the first and second floors and into the attic. According to police reports, 20 people were in the house at the time of the fire, but all made it out of the house and were sheltered by neighbors.
Firefighters were hampered by single digit temperatures, blowing snow, and icy conditions. Seven firefighters were treated for injuries ranging from back problems to smoke inhalation, according to union president Tom Lopez, and five did not return to work Friday.
The house's windows were boarded with plywood Friday morning as residents removed possessions from inside and loaded up a minivan. Police reports said the house "appears to be a total loss."
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Posted Jan 02, 2009 @ 02:26 PM By Staff reports
12/01/08
WALTHAM —Firefighters battle a two-alarm fire Monday night at a home at 20 Cutter St. in Waltham. Fire Capt. Brock Rowland said the fire started at 7:02 p.m. and no one was home at the time. Rowland said when firefighters arrived "heavy fire" could been seen from the rear of the house. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Posted Dec 01, 2008 @ 08:51 PM By Jeff Gilbride/Daily News staff
11/11/09
WALTHAM —Mayor Jeannette McCarthy looks fondly at the bricks that bear the names of her family members who served in the armed forces, including that of her father, Charles, who was a veteran of World War II.
While they hold a special meaning for her, McCarthy said each of the some 2,000 bricks dedicated so far other veterans in the city's Veterans Circle of Remembrance are just as important.
"They are no different than any other brick here," McCarthy said. "Every brick here is a symbol of the honor they brought to this country."
McCarthy and several city councilors gathered with many of Waltham's veterans and their families during yesterday's Veterans Day ceremony held at Waltham Common. Members of local veterans groups, flanked by the color guard from the city's Police and Fire departments, marched in formation to the Circle of Remembrance for the ceremony.
Frank Gillen, president of the Waltham Allied Veterans Council, paid tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice serving their country.
"We will never forget the loss of life in this country," Gillen said.
Among those at yesterday's ceremony was Walter Pierce, 99, believed to be the city's oldest veteran.
"He has the spirit of a 20-year-old man," Gillen said.
McCarthy asked the crowd to keep in mind those who are serving abroad. "We keep in our prayers those men and women who are serving overseas in very dangerous places," the mayor said to the gathering.
Ward 7 City Councilor Joe Giordano, who served in the Air Force and is a Vietnam War veteran, said Veterans Day "keeps the memory alive of what our men and women went through."
Giordano said he thinks people appreciate the sacrifice made by veterans more than they used to.
"I think after the Vietnam War things really changed," Giordano said. "Things were a lot different back then."
The Circle of Remembrance was created in 2005. The bricks dedicated to veterans bear their name, branch of the military in which they served and their dates of service.
Walter Hoyt, director of the city's Veterans Services, said there is enough space for about 22,000 bricks in all.
Richard Conn can be contacted at 781-398-8004 or rconn@cnc.com.
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Posted Nov 11, 2008 @ 11:43 PM By Richard Conn/Daily News staff
10/31/08
Lexington Fire Chief William Middlemiss said workmen had been using a propane torch to repair the gutters on the the 3-story brick building at the corner of Forest and Clarke Streets when the roof caught fire.
Middlemiss said all of the residents inside the 18 units were safely evacuated. The fire chief said the alarms in the building did not go off because the fire had started outside.
At least 17 fire trucks were called to the scene, including units from departments in Cambridge, Woburn, and Waltham. Firefighters battled the rooftop blaze for about 2 hours.
Pat Perry, a Clarke Street resident, said the building was formerly the Hancock Elementary School and was converted to condos in the late 1970s.
Neighbors and students from nearby Lexington High School crowded behind the yellow police tape on the sidewalks to watch as firefighters hosed down the remains of the destroyed roof. Police blocked off traffic on nearby streets.
Middlesmiss said a temporary shelter had been set up at Lexington Town Hall and the Red Cross would be available to assist the displaced residents.
Link to Story from the Boston Globe on October 31, 2008 By Erin Cahill, Globe Correspondent
10/31/08
Lexington —Workmen using a propane torch to melt solder on copper gutters may have started a fire that totally destroyed the Hancock School Condos, according to Lexington Fire Chief William Middlemiss.
There were no injuries.
“We believe everybody is out,” said Police Chief Christopher Casey, adding that this was at least a four-alarm fire. “The fire department made two passes through the building before exiting.”
The roofing company saw smoke in the eaves of the building, located at 33 Forest St., and called 911 at 2:16 p.m.
The historic school built in 1891 was refurbished and turned into an 18-unit condominium building in 1978.
“This is a tragedy,” said Donald Walker, a resident for 22 years. “No alarms went off in the building.”
A Red Cross emergency center will be set up at Town Hall for residents who were displaced by the fire.
Fire companies from Arlington, Bedford, Burlington, Waltham, Lexington, Medford, Cambridge, Woburn, and Hanscom Air Force Base worked the fire. Middlemiss said at least 12 engines and five ladder trucks helped subdue the fire, taking almost two hours to bring it under control.
Crews will now work to gut the building.
“We’ll be working overnight,” Middlemiss said.
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Posted Oct 31, 2008 @ 05:12 PM By Ian B. Murphy/Staff Writer
10/30/08
WALTHAM — Firefighters are hoping a new sticker campaign will someday save the lives of pets.
A recent shipment of bright red stickers that say "Pet Alert" and include check boxes to indicate what kinds of pets live at the address, were recently donated by the Waltham Firefighters Union Local 866, said Bob Marshall.
Marshall, a firefighter stationed on Moody Street, said he hopes pet owners across the city pick up the stickers and place them on the windows of their homes. The stickers are currently available for the Fire Prevention Office at the Central Fire Station on Lexington Street.
"They just let us know there's a pet in the house," said Fire Chief Richard Cardillo. "It's just the Fire Department trying to help citizens protect their families. Pets are a part of their families ... we'll make every effort to help them in their time of need."
Another recently adopted effort by Waltham firefighters to save pets was the addition of oxygen masks made to fit the faces of dogs and cats. About 20 masks were donated by Vetcision, a local veterinary emergency and specialty hospital.
Cardillo said firefighters have not yet had to use the masks.
"We hope we never have to," the chief said. "(The masks) will help revive a pet that's become overcome with smoke. Naturally people will take precedence over a pet in an emergency situation."
Marshall said that in the past emergency workers would improvise and use a human mask to revive a pet.
Jeff Gilbride can be reached at 781-398-8005 or jgilbrid@cnc.com.
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Posted Oct 30, 2008 @ 12:34 AM By Jeff Gilbride/Daily News staff
10/10/08
WALTHAM —One man has died and another was seriously injured after a hydraulic lift they were in toppled over Friday morning at a construction site on the campus of pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca.
Peter Marchese of Nashua, N.H., a 40-year-old construction worker died at the scene after the lift fell, according to a New Hampshire newspaper on Saturday. Waltham Police Detective Lt. Brian Navin said another worker, a 30-year-old man, was seriously injured and rushed to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. His condition was unknown as of yesterday. .
The identities of the two men have not been released by police, but the Nashua Telegraph reported one of the men as Marchese.
Navin said the two men, who work for Lymo Construction Co. Inc. in Merrimac, N.H., were working on a hydraulic lift installing metal panels to a building inside AstraZeneca's campus at 35 Gatehouse Drive.
About 11 a.m., the two men were approximately 25 feet in the air when the lift became unstable and toppled over, sending both men to the ground, Navin said. He said the lift was on an incline, but the cause of the accident is still under investigation. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is heading the investigation with assistance of local and state police and Middlesex County District Attorney's office.
Waltham Police, Fire and Rescue workers arrived at the complex at 11:09 a.m. Paramedics pronounced Marchese had died shortly afterward, according to police. Construction was halted for the day and AstraZeneca staff were informed of the incident. Approximately 500 people work at AstraZeneca's Waltham campus, which opened in spring 2000.
Several attempts to reach personnel at Lymo Construction Co. Inc. by phone were unsuccessful.
Navin said the lift was a rental from Chicago-based NES Rentals.
NES Rentals spokesman Chris Bowers said Friday the two men were using a "Genie 85-Foot Boom Lift."
"First and foremost we want to express our deepest sympathies for the family and friends of those individuals," Bowers said. "We are cooperating with local authorities and with OSHA on anything they ask in order to help move the investigation forward."
AstraZeneca site manager John Hennessy said the building the two men were working on is a pharmaceutical research facility the company is expanding. Hennessy said they plan to conduct an investigation and would not say whether the accident would affect the facility's expected completion date of mid-2009.
Hennessy said the safety record for the project has been excellent, noting a minor knee injury from a previous construction worker as the only other accident associated with the project. The expansion of the facility began during the first quarter of 2007.
Jeff Gilbride can be reached at 781-398-8005 or at jgilbrid@cnc.com.
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Posted Oct 10, 2008 @ 12:43 PM By Jeff Gilbride/Daily News staff
10/09/08
WALTHAM —City firefighters are spending this week teaching students across Waltham the basics of fire safety in hopes they may save a life.
"It's absolutely necessary. It's part of (National) Fire Safety Week," said firefighter Chuck Vinciulla, assigned to the Moody Street Fire Station. "There are a lot of young heroes who save their own lives but also someone else's. You've got to teach them while they're young."
At Whittemore Elementary School yesterday morning, students got an up close look at what it takes to be a firefighter.
Vinciulla, along with firefighters Matt Cunningham, Melissa Lelievre and Benjamin Arnold, taught students the basics of fire safety, from checking smoke detectors to the stop-drop-and-roll technique. Firefighters also dressed up student teacher Meghan Drake in a flame retardant jacket, hat and boots and showed students tactics of escaping a smoky room.
"It's great to see them get involved," Cunningham said. "It's good experience for them and they get into it a lot and it's very educational."
Vinciulla said the Fire Department has been hosting fire prevention seminars in schools for more than 20 years. This year firefighters will hold events in nine public and private elementary schools across the city.
Lelievre said the most important message they can offer is to spread the knowledge of fire safety to others.
"I think for them to go home and practice home escape plans is important so they all know what to do and where to meet," Lelievre said. "Checking exits and checking smoke detector batteries ... all of that is really important."
The highlight of the show was Patches, a robotic-dog puppet that helps teach children about fire safety. Dressed in a yellow jacket and driving a small red fire truck, Patches entertained children by flashing his headlights and spinning around in circles. The department acquired Patches two years ago and the kids "love it," Arnold said.
"It adds a little humor to the presentation so it's not just information being thrown at them," said Arnold, who puppeteerd Patches via remote.
For Whittemore students, the lessons hit home. Children raised their hands to answer questions and were praised for knowing the answers.
"I learned don't hide in your closet (when there's a fire)," said Jake LeBlanc, 7. "(I learned to) make a meeting place (if there's a house fire)."
The department will conclude Fire Prevention Week with an open house on Sunday at the Lexington Street Fire Station at 155 Lexington Street from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Free pizza will be served and families are encouraged to attend.
Jeff Gilbride can be reached 781-398-8005 or at jgilbrid@cnc.com
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Posted Oct 09, 2008 @ 12:28 AM By Jeff Gilbride/Daily News staff
10/2/08
WALTHAM —The arrival of a fire truck at a Colonial Avenue home yesterday afternoon may have led neighbors to believe something was wrong.
However, the subsequent appearance of the delivery man - a big, fluffy Sparky the Fire Dog - likely quelled those concerns.
The pizza delivered courtesy of Domino's Pizza was sent to the home of Mike and Karen Murphy. Mike is a Waltham firefighter.
The delivery was part of a joint effort between Domino's and the Boston-based National Fire Protection Association to promote National Fire Prevention Week, which is Oct. 5-11. The two groups launched the effort yesterday at the Waltham Fire Department headquarters on Lexington Street.
"Fire prevention week is the largest public health and safety observance on record," said Judy Comoletti with the National Fire Protection Association. Comoletti said the majority of fires start in the home, and said there are a number of relatively simple steps that can be taken to prevent them.
"Eighty-five percent of fires in the U.S. happen in the home, the place where we feel the safest," Comoletti said.
Fire Chief Richard Cardillo along with Mayor Jeannette McCarthy were on hand for yesterday's kickoff of the national campaign.
"Waltham is known not only for (its) fire suppression, but also for it's fire prevention," said McCarthy, who noted that Waltham firefighters often visit schools to teach fire prevention.
The Fire Department also took the opportunity to show off its new engine - Ladder 2 - during the event.
Tariq Khan, owner of the Domino's on Lexington Street - just a couple of doors down from the department's headquarters, said Domino's locations across the country would be including fire safety tips on pizza box tops delivered to homes. Some homes will receive their deliveries aboard a fire truck. Homes that have functioning smoke alarms may receive their meals on the house.
Richard Conn can be contacted at 781-398-8004 or rconn@cnc.com.
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Posted Oct 02, 2008 @ 12:21 AM By Richard Conn/Daily News Staff
09/21/08
"No! Stop! Back away!" Marisa Boni yelled as her karate instructor, Jim True, came toward her at Waltham Athletic Club.
"I don't know you. You're a stranger," she shouted at him.
"Good job, Marisa," True said and then turned to face the other 25 kids at the gym who were there Saturday to learn about stranger dangers.
"Now, what's a stranger?" he asked.
"Somebody you don't know," one girl replied.
"Yeah," another agreed. "And you can punch a stranger."
"Well," True said, "You can do that, but you might just want to yell at them first. If they don't listen to you, though, we're going to show you some moves you can do to get them to go away."
The demonstration was part of Saturday's Child Safety and Protection Day, which was sponsored by New York Life.
Held at Waltham Athletic Club, the event taught children about fire and bicycle safety, first aid and stranger danger. It was one of many events New York Life is holding nationwide for National Life Insurance Awareness Month.
"We want to be good citizens in the community," said Joe Harrold, who organized yesterday's event.
New York Life tried to keep the activities light Saturday, handing out free balloons, snacks and piggy banks. Kids could also get free stickers from the Fire Department and police badges from the police.
"Wow, a carnival," 3-year-old Gabe Feldon yelled when he entered a room and was met with a blue balloon.
"It seems like a good thing to take the kids to because it takes away their energy," said his dad, Repael Feldon.
For Gabe, Saturday's highlight was the karate demonstration. But for Feldon, like many other parents, the main reason to attend was to get his children fingerprinted by the Middlesex Sheriff's Office.
"God forbid something ever happened, to have the fingerprints would be a big help," said Frank Cotton, who was at the safety event with his 7-year-old son, Alex.
Officer Mike Kiney ran the fingerprinting station, along with two other officers. He placed children's hands on a digital scanner. The prints were then scanned into a computer database. Kids were then photographed and all the information was printed on a card for parents.
"It's digital now, so it's wicked easy to do," Kiney said. "The hard part about it, though, is trying to keep the candy and ice cream off of the kids hands long enough to make a print without messing up the equipment."
Kiney encourages all parents to get their children fingerprinted.
"Statistically, there's thousands of missing children around the country each year," he said. "It could happen here, whether it's today or in three years."
Kiney said the prints don't go into any law-enforcement system and are only shown on a card, which is given to parents for safekeeping.
He said if child abduction does happen having the card can save the police time.
"It all starts with a card," he said. "After you're 4 years old, your fingerprints never change, and no two people's prints are alike."
While parents were waiting in line for their kids to get fingerprinted, the children were entertained by Patches, the robotic fire safety dog.
At first some were were frightened by the pooch, but they soon warmed up.
Patches drives around in a bright red fire truck with working sirens and lights. With a Boston accent, Patches, talked to kids about fire safety. Some parents were wondering how the dog operated.
After a few minutes, however, a few spotted Chuck Vinciulla of Waltham Fire Department, hiding behind the Fire Department's display with a headpiece and a remote control.
"That must be the most fun job," one parent remarked.
Vinciulla agreed.
"He's a crowd pleaser, that's no doubt," he said. "But believe it or not, he brings out a lot of good questions about fire safety from the kids, that we, as men in uniforms, can't. ... Because he's a dog, the kids feel less intimidated by him."
On Saturday the questions were more frivolous than Vinciullla may have hoped. One 10-year-old girl asked Patches if he had a girlfriend. But when a girl asked Patches for his phone number and a 3-year-old boy answered "911," Vinciulla said he knew he was doing his job.
"It's a humbling experience when that happens, and it happens a lot," he said. "Having a 3-year-old come up to him and say 'Guess what, I know to call 911 if there's a fire," and they're only 3, that shows that the parents are doing their job teaching their kids about fires, and hopefully, we won't have to do ours of putting them out."
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Posted Sep 21, 2008 @ 11:18 PM By Ariel Wittenberg/Daily News Correspondent
09/15/08
WALTHAM —Shawn Rogers said it seemed like everybody was on Waltham Common on Saturday for a day of family fun.
But, Rogers added, for the annual Waltham Day, the crowd was nothing new.
"Everybody I know comes here every year," he said, while enjoying a picnic with his sister Christine and son Dakota.
"You get to see all of the people we might not have seen all summer," he said. "And there's lots of stuff for Dakota to do here, too."
Dakota, 3, took advantage of the myriad booths that available for children, showing off his tool box that he "made myself."
The-make-your-own-toolbox booth was just one of the activities available for kids during Waltham Day on the Common.
At the Waltham Fields Community Farm booth kids could try their hand at the I Know my Vegetables game. Also scooting along the common was Patches, the fire department's robotic dog, on hand to teach tots about fire safety.
From inflatable shark slides to the Cub Scout ropes course, kids could burn off some energy before having their face painted or sitting down to watch performances at the bandstand.
Mark Wasnock of the Waltham Museum said Waltham Day on the Common shows kids that history can be fun.
"It's a way to make history enjoyable," he said. "And the kids pick things up from this, too. The car show is a big hit, you know, and if the kids see a car they like from 1909, they'll talk about it forever and remember where it came from."
At the car show, Lions Club member Mike Scichilone said he was worried thunderstorms would keep the cars away from the common.
"I woke up at 2:30 in the morning today because I had a stomach ache thinking about the rain," he said. "As soon as there's a little rain, the cars don't come. Some guys spend three hours a day working on their cars, and that's too much time cleaning to bring them out in the rain."
Thankfully, Scichilone said, the rain held out.
"They're all my favorite car," Scichilone said. "But bringing them out really makes the community come together, so it's good that it's sunny."
Some Waltham residents have been having fun on the common for years.
Maryellen Dischino sat on the grass near the bandstand with her 2-year-old son Nico and her childhood friend Kristen Amarante and her two daughters.
"It's funny how things turn out," Dischino said. "We've been coming here since it started. Kirsten and I used to come here together as kids and now that we're older, we come here every year together with our kids."
Historic Waltham Days celebration comes to an end tomorrow, but there are still events planned.
Today a historic postcard exhibit will be held at Reagan Insurance Co., where those who attend can view historic postcards from a private collection. Also today, Ann Clifford, curator for Stonehurst, will give a talk at the Waltham Library about Robert Treat Paine's architectural and social legacy. Other scheduled events include a free lecture on Native American history at 2 p.m. at the Waltham Museum.
For more information on Historic Waltham Days, call the mayor's office at 781-314-3100. For a full schedule of events, visit www.historicwaltham.org.
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Posted Sep 15, 2008 @ 12:20 AM By Ariel Wittenberg/Daily News Correspondent
08/31/08
WALTHAM —A 45-year-old man was seriously injured Saturday trying to cross Rte. 128 in Waltham south of the Rte. 20 exit, state police said.
John Cullen was hit around 3 p.m. in the left lane of the northbound side of the highway by a 2005 Ford Five Hundred driven by Nancy Tripp of Westford, police said.
Cullen was taken by ambulance to Massachusetts General Hospital, police said. State police responded to the accident from their Framingham barracks.
An investigation closed the two left lanes of Rte. 128 north for about 2 1/2 hours.
This crash remains under investigation by state police crime scene services and the collision analysis and reconstruction section. The Waltham Police Department, the Waltham Fire Department and MassHighway assisted troopers at the scene.
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Posted Aug 31, 2008 @ 12:12 PM By staff reportsGateHouse News Service
08/10/08
WALTHAM - An electrical fire broke out in a single-family home at 157 Longfellow Road in Waltham around 11:45 a.m. Saturday morning, fire officials said.
The fire was contained in the attic of the 1 1/2-story wood-frame cape, however there was smoke and water damage on the top floor of the home, said Deputy Stephen Turner.
When firefighters arrived, there was heavy smoke coming from the second floor, said Turner, who estimated more than $150,000 in damage from the fire.
Link to story from the Metro West Daily News on on 8/10/08
07/24/08
Lexington -Last week’s rains flooded several areas of town, and readers captured several photos of the worst of it.
Dawes Road resident Alan Sherman watched Waltham firefighters try to rescue the handful of cars that were stuck in ponds created on Waltham Street just over the Lexington town line last Thursday.
“There were several cars that became disabled in the flood,” Sherman said. “The fire department was there trying to clear the storm drains — apparently they were successful because I came through the area again later that afternoon, and everything was back to normal.”
Selectman Hank Manz also viewed flooding under the Minuteman Bikeway on Grant Street near the Post Office.
Link to the story from The Lexington Minuteman on Wed Jul 30, 2008, 04:04 PM EDT
07/24/08
The Waltham Fire Department will conduct hydrant inspections throughout the city Aug. 1-30. Chief Richard Cardillo recommends that all persons who may use water for cooking, drinking or laundering during this period run their faucets utnil their water is free of rust. He advises citizens to watch for fire engines in their neighborhood as a sign that hydrandt testing is in progress.
For more information, call 781-314-3700.
07/24/08
WALTHAM —The Fire Department will soon be equipped with new potentially life-saving tools for pets that have been rescued from house fires.
Vetcision, a local veterinary emergency and specialty hospital, is donating 10 sets of oxygen masks that are custom-made to fit the faces of dogs and cats.
Dr. Brian Huss, CEO and chief of staff at Vetcision, said the specially designed masks for pets are still considered "fairly new" emergency equipment and aren't yet commonplace among fire departments.
At fires or drownings, emergency workers will typically make do by using masks designed for humans on pets. However, Huss said because those masks don't fit snuggly on a pet's face, oxygen can escape.
Waltham Deputy Fire Chief Stephen Mahoney estimated that pets are found at about half of the house fires to which the department responds. He said when pets need oxygen firefighters have improvised by using the human masks, which he said can be "hit or miss" in the their effectiveness. Mahoney said the custom-shaped masks for pets are a welcome addition.
"I wasn't even aware that they existed," Mahoney said.
The cone-shaped masks, which are made by Surgi Vet, Veterinary Surgical Products, come in three different sizes to fit the contours of dogs and cats faces. Deputy Chief Cliff Richardson said the masks would help give pets an enhanced level of care.
"If it ever comes to where we have to assist an animal in breathing, I think it will help out a lot," Richardson said. "And they deserve it."
Huss said the donation of the masks was just a way for Vetcision - which just opened its 9,000-square-foot facility on Second Avenue last month - to give back to the city.
"We're just trying to contribute to the community," he said.
Huss also has a kinship with firefighters. He is a retired firefighter/EMT from Ohio. Huss said he also owns an antique fire engine, which he displays in the Vetcision parking lot.
"Once a firefighter, always a firefighter," Huss said.
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Posted Jul 24, 2008 @ 10:00 AM By Richard Conn/Daily News Staff GHS
07/17/08
Melrose -A four-alarm fire on Franklin Street on Wednesday, July 16 left a house uninhabitable, displaced its three residents, damaged three other nearby homes and caused an estimated $300,000 worth of damage.
The Melrose Fire Department received a call at 12:40 p.m. about the quick-spreading blaze that started in a two-family, two and a half story wood frame house at 386 Franklin St., according to Melrose Fire Capt. Ed Collina.
Unfortunately, almost simultaneously a three-alarm fire broke out in Chelsea, Collina said, stretching the mutual aid system beyond its normal operating capacity.
“We got Wakefield Engine 2 and Stoneham responding, but we rely on Everett,” he said. “Everett would normally cover us on a second alarm, but they were in Chelsea, so we had to then reach out even further … we had Waltham ladder here covering and a Woburn engine, and you have to factor in their time in getting to Melrose and figuring out where to go.”
Firefighters also had additional problems in the early stages of the fire due to a bad hydrant, leading to a delay in obtaining an additional water source.
Warm, humid weather also posed problems. A Boston firefighter fell unconscious at the scene and was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston where he was admitted, Collina said.
“There were a lot of dehydration issues,” he said. “It was close to 90 degrees and they’re working with gear on and that atmosphere.”
A second floor resident received minor burns, singeing his hair, eyebrows and the hair on his forearm, while a first floor resident escaped without any injuries.
“The fire was lightning quick when they noticed it,” Collina said. “They barely got out within 10 seconds.”
The fire burned quickly and was so large that firefighters had to break into an unoccupied house next door because the windows had broken from heat exposure. Once inside, firefighters were able to prevent the blaze from spreading, although three houses and a detached garage sustained heat damage including melted vinyl siding, Collina said.
“This was a fast moving fire and we had exposure problems,” he said. “We actually had to enter that house to make sure it [the fire] didn’t get up into the attic … we’re real lucky it didn’t get in there. We were kind of fighting two buildings at once.”
The fire remains under investigation.
Link to the story from The Melrose Free Press on Thu Jul 17, 2008, 11:44 AM EDT By Daniel DeMaina / ddemaina@cnc.com
07/03/08
Fireworks are illegal in Massachusetts, but they're not illegal illegal...right?
Wrong.
Despite their apparent reputation as a bit of harmless patriotic summer fun, police departments and fire officials throughout the region say fireworks are dangerous - and sometimes deadly - and people caught with them stand a chance of facing consequences.
Under state law, anyone in possession of or setting off fireworks can be fined up to $100, and their fireworks will be confiscated. For those who sell fireworks, the penalties are tougher - fines of up to $1,000 and up to a year in jail.
Every year the state confiscates about five tons of illegal fireworks, which are then disposed of safely in an industrial incinerator, said officials at the state fire marshal's office yesterday.
"We have a contract with a company," Department of Fire Services spokeswoman Jennifer Mieth said. "They schedule it for their low times, they cease all other operation and put specific fire protection measures in place just for this disposal process."
The fate of those people the fireworks are confiscated from is harder to pin down.
While local departments respond to calls of people shooting off fireworks around the holiday, exactly how far the law's long arm reaches often depends on the circumstances, police said.
"There are criminal charges that can be taken out for possession of fireworks," Hopkinton Police Chief Thomas Irvin said yesterday. "(But) I think, like most misdemeanors...there's some discretion on the part of the officer on what action they'll take.
"Based on the situation, I would expect charges to be taken out if it was flagrant or dangerous. We've had people go to the extent of having commercial-type pyrotechnic displays. They're more apt to face charges than someone who has a sparkler in their backyard."
And on a holiday that often includes generous amounts of social lubrication, how cooperative people are with police is also a factor in the decision about whether to summon a person to court or simply issue a warning.
In some cases, police said, particularly uncooperative people may also be arrested for disturbing the peace.
Surprisingly, Irvin said the number of fireworks incidents has dropped in recent years.
"It's not as much as some people might think," he said. "We get some complaints, but the typical outcome of those complaints is people don't hang around.
"In Hopkinton, we end up with a recycling bin (of confiscated fireworks,) that's a typical year."
"We do have a few complaints every year," Ashland Police Lt. David Beaudoin said. "But not a lot. ... It usually results in us going there one time, and people knock it off."
"We don't see it as often as we used to," Milford Police Chief Tom O'Loughlin said. "You still run into it, but not a whole lot. The biggest concern is just the safety.
"A lot of fireworks now are at a point where somebody that handles pyrotechnics (should be) handling it. If you're setting that thing off, and you're doing it in a neighborhood, where does it land?"
Lt. Joe Brooks of the Waltham Police Department's community service department said officers typically respond to a handful of complaints, and issue tickets only in the worst cases.
"If you have a neighborhood where people are being disturbed by fireworks and you've spoken to people maybe more than once, then obviously, they didn't learn the first time," he said. "If you have to come back a second time and people are being belligerent, obviously you have to deal with the situation."
For those who want to experience fireworks during the holiday, state Fire Marshal Stephen Coan had a message: Leave them to the pros.
In the past decade, Coan said, more than 40 people have been treated in emergency rooms for fireworks-related burns, and 677 fires and explosions involving fireworks were reported.
"You hate to think you're the Scrooge, or you're not being patriotic, but the fact is the results tell the story," he said.
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune (via Wicked Local.com) on Thu Jul 03, 2008, 02:31 PM EDT By Peter Reuell/Daily News staff
06/27/08
4 Firefighters Hospitalized After Boston Blaze
BOSTON -- Lightning strikes sparked several fires and heavy winds and rains brought down trees Friday as a powerful storm moved across the Bay State.
A fire in a brownstone at 256 Beacon St. in Boston injured four firefighters. The flames started in a unit on the top floor of the building at about 3 p.m. Officials said two firefighters suffered smoke inhalation, and two suffered heat exhaustion.
Resident Shelly Appell, who lives on the sixth floor of the building, said that he heard a boom, and thinks lightning hit the building.
"You see the lightning flash. It cracked. There was thunder. I am sure that is what it was. Something from the lightning hit something on the roof," Appell said.
A building on Pearl Street in Cambridge was hit by lightning from the same storm. There were no injuries reported. Officials said that it was one of 30 lightning-related incidents in Cambridge.
The storm also knocked trees down in Newton and Waltham. Watertown fire officials said that a number of trees and wires were knocked down. About 11,000 residents lost power in Newton, Acton, Watertown and Waltham, according to NStar. Officials said that they hope to restore power Friday night.
An oak tree fell on a home on Princeton Street. Joy Cline Phinney was in the house when the tree fell.
"I heard a loud boom, and there were two crashes after that," Phinney said.
Two people were injured when a tree fell on a car at 671 Columbia Road in Boston. The extent of their injuries was not immediately known.
The storm caused a traffic nightmare on some local streets. A sinkhole opened up on Route 9 near Cypress Street in Brookline.
Floodwaters forced officials in Boston to shut down Storrow Drive eastbound at the Kenmore Square exit for a brief time, and traffic was diverted to Charlesgate East.
The threat of thunderstorms will diminish after sunset, according to StormTeam 5's Mike Wankum.
On Saturday, the winds will flow from the east and keep things cool near the coast. Residents inland can expect highs to hit the 80s. There will be afternoon showers and thunderstorms across western Massachusetts and parts of New Hampshire.
More showers and thunderstorms are likely on Sunday afternoon. Expect high humidity, and the dew points will remain at uncomfortable levels in the 60s to near 70. The storms are likely to produce heavy rain and lightning. Small hail and gusty winds are also possible.
Rain will likely linger into Monday. By Tuesday, clearing skies will begin to return.
Link to the story from The Boston Channel Website on Jun 2, 2008
06/20/08
It took firefighters from six communities about three hours to extinguish the flames.
“It was an all hands operation,” Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Davis said.
Davis said a 911 call was received at 11:40 a.m. reporting a fire on a second floor balcony in the rear of apartment 28.
While firefighters were en-route to the scene, they could see a plume of smoke.
Davis said when the first engine company arrived, there was heavy fire showing from the rear of the building’s second and third floor porches with the flames extending to the roof.
A second alarm was immediately sounded bringing in engine companies from Braintree and Quincy and a ladder crew from Quincy to assist in evacuating the building as well as fighting the fire.
Davis said that firefighters knocked on every door in the building to make sure no one was inside.
Police officers also assisted in the evacuation.
Davis said the flames had burned through the soffits above the porches and caught the roof ablaze.
Flames quickly spread through the walls, breached the attic, and swept through the roof.
Two firefighters who were working on the roof were ordered off just before it collapsed.
A small roof ladder was lost when the roof caved in, Davis said.
A third alarm was then called and firefighters from Holbrook, Rockland, Abington and Hull responded to the scene.
Four aerial ladders were strategically placed around the burning structure when ladder pipes were utilized, directing water onto the flames.
“We set up ladders in every sector we could,” Davis said.
Additional fire engines were used to pump water from hydrants into supply lines and the water department was notified to increase volume and pressure, according to Davis.
The fire became so intense, Davis ordered a nearby building evacuated as a precaution.
“We were worried about the radiant heat and embers,” he said.
A resident notified the firefighters that there were two cats in one of the second floor apartments.
“A firefighter was able to breach a window and brought one of the cats out to safety,” Davis said. He added that initially the firefighters were not able to locate the second one.
After the flames were knocked down, firefighters went back in and saw the cat, but it ran off.
“I told the resident that the cat was safe, but we couldn’t get it,” Davis said. He added that this particular apartment did not sustain heavy damage.
After about three hours, the blaze was brought under control.
The fire consumed the entire top floor with two units escaping heavy damage.
The rest of the apartments sustained smoke and water damage and many contents were destroyed, Davis said.
Electricity was shutoff to the entire complex during the fire.
Davis explained that National Grid wasn’t able to initially isolate the power cutoff to the fire building. Once the blaze was brought under control, power was restored to the other buildings in the complex.
The building is located at the entrance of Colonel’s Lane off Pleasant St.
A section of Pleasant Street from Mutton Lane to Washington Street was closed to traffic most of the afternoon.
The Weymouth Emergency Management Agency and the Red Cross assisted fire officials in accounting for all the occupants.
Davis explained that the agencies worked together in setting up a head count of all the residents from a list supplied by the apartment management. Every apartment was checked.
The town’s building department and police were to meet with other officials in determining when residents could go in and retrieve belongings.
Davis said the management company is looking into setting up temporary shelter for some of residents in another building that was repaired from a previous fire.
Firefighters from Boston, Hull, Milton and Randolph covered Weymouth’s empty stations. Davis noted that they responded to other calls including medicals during the day.
A mobile command post from Waltham came to the scene as part of the Metro Fire mutual aid response.
Davis praised the efforts of the firefighters, police, Red Cross, Emergency Management and the other communities that assisted.
Mayor Susan Kay arrived at the scene and along with Weymouth Emergency Management Agency Director John Mulveyhill and Mass. Emergency Management Agency Region 2 Director Bon Nadeau, assisted in finding shelter for the displaced residents.
Link to the story from The Weymouth News on Fri Jun 20, 2008, By Tom Gorman
05/15/08
WALTHAM —A Comcast employee fell nearly 15 feet from a ladder yesterday afternoon but escaped without life-threatening injuries, authorities said.
The contractor, whose name and age were unavailable, was about halfway up a ladder near 125 Riverview Ave. The ladder was resting on utility wires when he fell, said Fire Capt. Roger Hebert.
"I don't think he fell the full height of the ladder," he said.
The man landed on both feet when he fell, said Hebert, and was taken to Newton-Wellesley Hospital with ankle injuries.
Hebert said the man was working on the cable wires for the house at the time. Because the house was on the border of Newton and Waltham, rescue crews from both departments responded.
The ladder was likely positioned improperly or at a bad angle, said Hebert.
The man was working with a co-worker at the home, said Hebert, although the other employee was not near the man when he fell.
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Posted May 15, 2008 @ 01:04 AM,By Kerri Roche/Daily News staff
04/28/08
Fire officials say this campfire, on land behind Brandeis University, might have caused Friday's brush fire. Police say the area is frequented by homeless, who may have left a smoldering fire unattended.
WALTHAM —Firefighters battled another brush fire Friday morning that scorched nearly two acres of woods next to the Charles River in an area frequented by the homeless, Deputy Chief Michael Quinn said.
Crews from Waltham and Weston spent three hours battling the blaze off Angleside Road near Brandeis University.
According to a preliminary investigation, the fire was started by the careless disposal of smoking materials or campfire embers, said Quinn.
The isolated area, less than one mile into the woods, is known to authorities as a hang-out spot for the homeless. The origin of the fire, said Quinn, was at the makeshift campsite.
Amid the charred tree trunks and soil lie the remains of a campfire and a few glass bottles.
Even after the flames were put out, the smell of burnt leaves hung in the air.
Engines 1 and 4, Squad 5, Ladder 2 and C-2 all responded to the fire, said Quinn.
Because the fire was deep into the woods, a brush truck from Weston was called to provide crews get to the flames.
Overall, extinguishing the blaze required the efforts of 26 firefighters, said Quinn.
Over the past week, firefighters from communities across Massachusetts have been putting out brush fires.
Waltham firefighters battled a small brush fire on College Farm Road Thursday that was caused by careless disposal of barbecue materials. They also assisted the town of Lexington in Great Meadows Wednesday with a large brush fire. It was believed to be caused by a small group of boys playing in the woods.
"The conditions have obviously been dry and the problem now is it's not a surface burn anymore," said Quinn.
Crews saturated the area with water to prevent the brush from smoldering and igniting again during the midday heat.
Quinn said the recent rain should help to improve the dry conditions across the area.
The public should take precautions, such as properly disposing of cigarettes and not burning yard waste, said Quinn.
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Posted Apr 28, 2008 @ 12:46 AM,By Kerri Roche/Daily News staff
04/26/08
(Brad Puffer, NECN: Waltham, Mass.) - Firefighters in Waltham, Massachusetts spend Friday morning dousing a small brush fire along the Charles River. It was a fire they say was started by the careless disposal of cigarettes.
The fire caused no threat to homes but was hard for crews to battle.
With the weather this dry, the fire danger remains high. There is a statewide ban on outside fires.
More than 1,000 fires were caused last year by the careless disposal of cigarettes.
NECN's Brad Puffer has more.
Link to Story from NECN on 4/26/08.
04/26/08
Woburn, MA -Firefighters spent nearly four hours battling a brush fire behind a Waltham Street home Friday, then raced to another part of town Monday to do exactly the same thing – part of what Fire Chief Paul Tortolano calls an almost inevitable part of spring.
Three auxiliary companies responded to both blazes, Tortolano said, and no injuries were reported.
Friday’s blaze was behind 34 Waltham St., while Monday’s was in the Rag Rock area off Bedford Road.
Tortolano said brush fires are common at this time of year, when accumulated pine needles and leaves sometimes ignite after a dry period “and when they catch, they go.”
He added the fires are sometimes difficult to fight because they can be in remote areas, with no ready source of water nearby.
But the chief said brush fires are not as troublesome in Woburn as they once were.
“I remember the days when we’d be out two weeks (fighting a blaze),” he said
Tortolano said new development in Woburn has eaten up a lot of the open space where brush fires tend to occur, making them less of a menace today.
No rain is predicted for the area through this weekend, when skies will be partly cloudy. Highs through Sunday are expected to be in the 60s, with lows in the 40s.
Link to the story from The Woburn Advocate on Tue Apr 23, 2008, 01:37 PM EDTBy Kathie Ragsdale
04/26/08
WALTHAM —The Fire Department is reminding the public that the sunny skies and cool winds this week created the perfect conditions for fast-moving brush fires as crews worked to put out two fires on consecutive days.
Yesterday, three pump trucks and a ladder crew went to 211 College Farm Road around 3 p.m. for a small brush fire caused by the careless disposal of barbecue materials, said Deputy Chief Richard Mitchell.
The brush and landscaping timber below the home's deck caught fire and spread but did not cause structural damage to the house, he said.
Unlike many brush fires, yesterday's was easily extinguished, said Mitchell.
Waltham firefighters are not alone in their recent battles against brush fires.
Firefighters in Milford, Hopkinton, Hudson, Lexington and Duxbury, have all battled brush fires this week.
"We've been fairly lucky," said Fire Chief Richard Cardillo.
On Wednesday, with temperatures reaching over 80 degrees and strong winds, local firefighters, including Waltham's Engine 7, spent the afternoon battling a large brush fire in East Lexington's Great Meadows.
Officials have not confirmed what started the blaze, but Lexington Police said six boys playing in the area were responsible.
Cardillo said the wind, combined with the recent dry weather, causes brush fires to spread quickly across dry, dense surfaces.
"Anytime you have a wind and you're chasing the fire, it's hard to fight," said Cardillo.
Two spots in Waltham, at the top of Prospect Hill and behind the Stigmatine Fathers and Brothers retreat house on Lexington Street, are prone to brush fires because of their altitude, said Cardillo.
Also, wooded areas where trains, dirt bikes or all-terrain vehicles pass through also see increased numbers of brush fires due to hot mufflers or poorly maintained braking systems that produce heat or shoot off sparks, he said.
Although open burning permits are not granted in Waltham or anywhere east of Rte. 128, all communities in Massachusetts are no longer issuing permits because of the early onslaught of brush fires, said Cardillo.
"Those permits have been suspended statewide because of the dryness of the brush," said Cardillo.
Cardillo said the late April dryness is not unheard of.
"In April you usually have a lot of rain, but we've had two nice weeks. So, I guess it's a little bit of an early start but it's not unusual," he said.
However, as the warm weather continues, Cardillo expects the battle against brush fires will get more demanding.
"In the middle of the summer, the (flames) follow the root system and pop up in other areas," he said. "You really have to dig into the ground to get it and you keep going back."
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Fri Apr 25, 2008,By Kerri Roche/Daily News staff
04/26/08
(Brad Puffer, NECN: Waltham, Mass.) - Over 650 brush fires have burned across the Bay State in just the past week. Some of the blazes have been intentionally set, others a result of the warm, dry and windy conditions. The latest of these blazes started in Waltham, Massachusetts Friday morning.
Firefighters had their hands full trying to battle the Waltham blaze. The fire posed no threat to any residences, but required a lot of time and manpower to contain.
Deputy Fire Chief Michael Quinn says it was likely caused by a cigarette.
Officials are reminding Massachusetts residents about the statewide ban on outside fires. This is a ban that will be strictly enforced given the conditions.
NECN's Brad Puffer has more.
Link to Story from NECN on 4/26/08.
03/19/08
WALTHAM —Three people were sent to the hospital after police say a drunken Waltham man swerved and collided with an oncoming sedan on Trapelo Road Monday night.
Officer Stephen Clarke said an off-duty officer witnessed Paul Mazzarelli, 60, drift into oncoming traffic and slam his Ford Ranger into a Nissan Maxima at 7:45 p.m. near the intersection of Trapelo Road and Abbott Street.
"The off-duty officer had to swerve onto side street to avoid impact," said Officer Stephen Clarke. "(The driver of the truck) barely missed his vehicle and collided head-on with the next vehicle."
Police will summons Mazzarelli for operating under the influence of alcohol, operating to endanger and operating left of the center line, said Clarke.
The 21-year-old driver of the sedan, a Boston resident, and his passenger, a 21-year-old woman, were taken to area hospitals with non-life threatening injuries, said Clarke.
Mazzarelli was taken to Lahey Clinic, said Clarke.
All three individuals were wearing their seat belts and have been released from the hospital, Clark said.
The force of the collision, said Clarke, pushed the Nissan Maxima backward nearly 20 feet. Both cars were totaled upon impact, and the driver of the sedan had to be removed from his car with the Jaws of Life.
Mazzarelli does not have any previous drunken driving convictions, said Clarke. His driving record is also free of any accidents and only contains a speeding ticket, said Clarke.
After the accident, fire and police workers closed the road for about a 30 minutes, said Clarke.
Yesterday, Clarke was back at the scene to reconstruct the accident and look for further evidence.
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Mar 19, 2008, By Kerri Roche/Daily News staff
03/18/08
Lexington police used every method at their disposal, from K-9 units to a helicopter with thermal imaging, to look for a Lexington resident with Alzheimer’s disease in a regional search that lasted for more than 12 hours last weekend.
The search began at 6 p.m. Saturday night and ended just after daybreak Sunday morning after the lightly dressed man turned up at the Bedford VA hospital, disoriented and cold but with no injuries other than scrapes and bruises. He was admitted to Lahey Clinic in Burlington and is in stable condition.
Lexington police and fire departments, Lincoln Fire and Waltham Fire Auxiliary, the Waltham police with two K-9 units, Hanscom Air Force Base staff, the Massachusetts Park Rangers and a state police helicopter searched Lexington, Lincoln and Bedford for the man, according to Capt. Charles Sargent of the Lexington Police Department.
That doesn’t include dozens of neighbors and volunteers who turned out to search for the Cedar Street resident who was supposed to take his daily lap around the block at 4 p.m. Saturday. Many of the neighbors were roused by a reverse-911 call made by Lexington police asking residents to look for the man.
“We can’t possibly thank the volunteers enough for coming out to help us,” said Sargent. “They really came out of the woodwork to help.”
This is the second time in a month the man has gone missing. On Feb. 15 he was found walking down the median on Route 2.
Link to the story from The Lexington Minuteman on Tue Mar 18, 2008, 01:37 PM EDTBy Ian B. Murphy/Staff Writer
02/05/08
WALTHAM - A donation from Brandeis University helped outfit the truck, which will replace Engine 4 with a premier piece of equipment.
As Chief Richard Cardillo examined the shiny E-One Rescue Pumper, the station crew dragged out hose lines to fill the 750-gallon water tank.
Opening the side compartments, adjustable shelves and pullout trays, Cardillo pointed out the work of Lt. John Castellano, who spent many hours of his own time at Greenwood Motors in North Attleborough designing and customizing many of the engine’s features.
The new truck cost $406,500, with an additional $12,000 for the customized storage units and shelving.
"The rescue pumper holds a lot more equipment (than the previous engine)," said Cardillo. The inside storage cabinet will hold the crew’s medical equipment, he said.
Also, said Cardillo, Brandeis University made a donation worth $40,000 in the form of a top-of-the-line piece of equipment.
The extrication device designed by Holmatro, said Cardillo, "in my opinion, it’s the best on the market today. We’re very grateful to Brandeis."
That tool, primarily used to free people trapped in cars after an accident, has more power than previous models and is easier to use because it weighs less, said Cardillo.
With Brandeis’ recent donation, the city now has three pieces of extrication equipment, said Cardillo. "Each one has different things they can do better than the other," said Cardillo. "Now, I think we have the best of all worlds."
The rescue pumper itself, said Cardillo, can pump 1,250 gallons of water per minute. Unlike the previous engine, it also can store and pump out foam used for petroleum fires, he said.
There are three hose line hookups at the front of the truck, said Cardillo. A fourth line runs from the truck’s front bumper, allowing firefighters to avoid stretching the hose lines around the truck when they pull up directly behind a car fire on the highway.
With nearly 20 years of service under its belt, the older engine will be used as a spare to replace others while they are in the shop. To have a complete engine with all the necessary tools as backup, most of the supplies aboard the new engine are also fresh out of the package, said Cardillo.
Based on his records, said Cardillo, the Prospect Street station is the busiest in the city. On average, Engine 4 makes 100 more runs each year than any other fire station.
Cardillo hopes to have the Prospect Street station crew trained and familiar with the new engine for its first shift Friday evening.
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Fri Feb 05, 2008,By Kerri Roche/Daily News staff
2/01/08
WALTHAM - Firefighters battled a fire Friday afternoon that heavily damaged two apartments inside a Calvary Street multi-family home.
Just after noon, the first-floor apartment in a four-unit house at 20 Calvary St. caught fire.
According to Deputy Chief Michael Quinn, "the fire originated in the first floor ceiling area. It extended to the second and third floors on the left side of the house."
No one was injured during the two-alarm fire, said Quinn.
It was not immediately known how the fire started.
"It’s under investigation. It’s too soon to tell," said Quinn.
As crews battled the blaze and heavy smoke conditions, several second and third floor windows were smashed by firefighters to provide access to the second and third floors. Two ladder trucks were extended to the second floor and crews rolled out five water lines.
A combination of eight ladder trucks and engines responded to the scene.
Two of the apartments on the left side of the building were damaged heavily by fire and water, said Quinn. The remaining two apartments were smoke damaged.
Fausto Fernandez, whose family rents one of the apartments inside the home that was not severely damaged during the fire, stood across the street while crews worked.
Fernandez said his uncle, who was outside when the fire began, lives in the first floor apartment where the blaze started. His uncle was the first person to notice the fire inside the apartment and immediately called 911, said Fernandez.
Everyone who was inside the building got out quickly, he added.
Carol and Rick Mazzola stood outside in the freezing rain and wind to watch as firefighters worked.
The couple lives directly behind the building on Liverpool Lane.
Based on their observations, "it started in the kitchen. We could see fire. That was the first place (firefighters) entered," said Rick Mazzola, pointing to the second floor rear window.
"It just happened so quick. We wanted to make sure everyone was out," he said.
After firefighters had extinguished the flames and secured the area, tenants living on the right side of the building were allowed to survey the damage.
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Fri Feb 01, 2008,By Kerri Roche/Daily News staff
1/13/08
WESTON - A 44-year-old man was killed last night on Rte. 128 in Weston after getting out of his vehicle, which was stopped in the breakdown lane, and being hit by a tractor-trailer truck, state police said.
Police said after coming to a stop in the breakdown lane and getting out of his Dodge Durango, the driver was struck by a 2002 Kenworth tractor-trailer. The accident occurred at approximately 5:50 p.m. on the southbound side of Rte. 128 just after Rte. 20.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Police did not release the man's name pending notification of his relatives.
According the state police, preliminary investigations have determined the man was near the white fog line separating the right travel lane and the breakdown lane when he was struck. The identity of the victim was not released.
James Glovacki, 55, of Greenfield, was the driver of the tractor-trailer. He was not injured in the accident, police said.
State Trooper Eric Benson said it was too early to determine if anyone is at fault for the fatal accident.
"This is very preliminary (information). It's extremely early and it's unclear now," said Benson, "It will continue to evolve, I'm sure, for quite some time."
The crash is being investigated by the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, the State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section and the State Police Crime Scene Services Section.
The Weston Police, Weston Fire Department and Waltham Police assisted the troopers on scene. The state's medical examiner also responded to the scene.
While the accident scene was investigated and cleared the two right travel lanes were closed for nearly three hours. During that time, traffic was diverted around the accident and into the two left lanes of Rte. 128 South.
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Sun Jan 13, 2008,By Kerri Roche/Daily News staff
1/10/08
Since carbon monoxide detectors are now required in every home, fire departments across the state are regularly answering calls for elevated levels of the odorless gas, proving to state officials that the new law has merit.
"It (means the law) is working," said State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan. "We're very pleased that it is."
Emergency calls for carbon monoxide across the state nearly doubled from 2005 to 2006, according to statistics compiled by the Department of Fire Services.
Since coming into effect in 2006, "Nicole's Law," named after Nicole Garofalo, 7, who died Jan. 28, 2005 of carbon monoxide poisoning in Plymouth, the owner of every residential building must install detectors on each habitable floor and within 10 feet of every bedroom. As of this year, all housing facilities owned by the state, which includes public housing, must have detectors.
Carbon monoxide builds up in homes where fossil fuels, such as natural gas and oil, are used for heating. Over time, carbon monoxide causes dizziness, headaches, fatigue and, in some cases, death.
The detectors, said Coan, have saved lives.
Fire departments are answering calls before people are sickened or killed, Coan said.
Homeowners who do not install detectors will face penalties when they sell or transfer their houses. As of March 31, 2006, fire departments are required to inspect all homes for the detectors upon sales or transfers.
Although local fire departments have not seen the spike in calls reported statewide, firefighters are routinely responding to activated carbon monoxide detectors.
"Ninety percent of the time we have a problem it's from a heating unit malfunctioning," said Waltham Fire Chief Richard Cardillo. Winter is typically the busiest time for carbon monoxide calls because homes are not well-ventilated and snow builds up around heating vents, he said.
"If your hot water heater or your heating system is vented to the outside and the snow is blocking the vent, the exhaust is coming into the house," said Cardillo. Homeowner should clear their vents while shoveling their driveways, he said.
The detectors are "pretty self-sufficient" and mostly require homeowners to only change the batteries, said Cardillo.
"Keep the batteries fresh. Change them when you (reset) the clocks," he said.
In Newton, Fire Prevention Lt. Robert Binnall said there has not been a dramatic increase in calls this year over last, "but we do get a decent amount of calls on them."
Like Waltham firefighters have found, the majority of calls are for carbon monoxide detectors that are going off because the batteries need to be changed or the home's heating unit is malfunctioning. But even the false calls are good, said Binnall, because it reminds homeowners of the potential of danger.
"Before, they didn't even know anything was in the house," Binnall said.
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Thu Jan 10, 2008, By Kerri Roche/Daily News staff
01/07/08
WALTHAM - Growing up, David Grigorakos never had to look at comic book stars to recognize a hero because he had his father, who didn't have a bright-colored emblem across his chest but a Waltham Fire Department patch on his sleeve.
A former Marine and Waltham resident, Deputy Chief Mike Grigorakos first stepped onto Engine 1 on Jan. 6, 1980, as a firefighter, and rounded out his career as the department's trainer for the city's firefighters.
"At times is was scary," said David Grigorakos, 24. "You didn't know if your dad was coming back. He's my hero."
But after this weekend, David Grigorakos will no longer have to worry if his father will make it home safely after getting a call for a multiple-alarm fire in the middle night.
After exactly 28 years of service, Deputy Chief Mike Grigorakos retired yesterday after completing his last shift.
On Friday, city officials, firefighters and friends gathered at the Lexington Street headquarters to say goodbye to a man consistently described as dedicated and disciplined - two traits that are likely the lasting effects of his time as a Marine.
"Mike is probably the most dedicated man we've had. We probably could use 173 (firefighters) like him," said Fire Chief Richard Cardillo. "If he didn't know the answer to something, he'd go and get it for you. He's been an asset to this department."
For the past five years Grigorakos supervised the department's training program to provide ongoing professional development.
"He had to have everything perfect all the time for the safety of his men," said Dick Murphy, who had a business relationship with Grigorakos as a vendor for Industrial Professional Services, which provides the city with fire equipment.
Because of his Marine training, said Murphy, Grigorakos was "not willing to accept mediocrity" from others and himself.
Local 866 President Bob Marshall previously worked alongside Grigorakos.
"He was very dedicated to his job," Marshall said. "He was a leader, not a follower."
Since joining the ranks less than five years ago, firefighter Gary Delosa is still fairly new to the department. Delosa was one of the many firefighters trained by Grigorakos when he started.
"He's always been a perfectionist, so he takes it to heart that we should know our job when it comes to life safety. He was very adamant that we knew what we were doing," said Delosa, who was trained in first response procedures, firefighting techniques, search and rescue, terrorist events and hazardous materials by Grigorakos.
As the liaison between the Emergency Medical Services and the WFD, American Medical Response employee Carla Orta coordinated the in-house training with Grigorakos.
"This is probably one of the easiest departments I've ever had to work with," said Orta, who credits Grigorakos as the reason. "He never gives you a hard time. He is professional. He's courteous."
Amid the laughter filling the fire station's packed meeting room, Mayor Jeannette A. McCarthy arrived to present Grigorakos with a resolution to recognize his dedication to the city.
Although Grigorakos respectfully declined to comment about his time in Waltham, he briefly addressed his fellow firefighters at the beginning of the in-house party.
Even though his time at the station is over, "there's another ride out there waiting," Grigorakos said. "This ride is over."
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Mon Jan 07, 2008, By Kerri Roche/Daily News staff
12/19/07
WALTHAM - Standing over a pink and purple girl's bicycle decorated with Disney characters, Deputy Fire Chief Stephen Turner made sure the wheels he helped assemble rolled smoothly.
A 25-year veteran of the Waltham department, Turner joined a handful of volunteers from the Waltham firefighters union this week who donated their time to assemble bikes for The Salvation Army's Wish Upon a Star program.
"I can give a few hours, it's the least I can do for the kids," Turner said. "The city's been good to me."
Every year The Salvation Army solicits Christmas gifts for needy Waltham families. For the past 11 years, the Waltham firefighters union has contributed brand-new bicycles assembled and ready to go under the tree.
"We started doing this program because it was one of the programs that directly affects kids in the Waltham area," said Lt. Jim Perry, who has been participating in the program since it began.
On Tuesday night firefighters spent hours putting together everything from tricycles for toddlers to 26-inch bikes for teenagers. Over the years, Perry said, the program has grown from donating about 40 bikes to an average of 75.
"They (firefighters) really add to the quality of the (Wish Upon a Star) program," said Salvation Army Capt. Lolita Sanchez.
Sanchez organized rooms full of gifts in the Main Street office space donated to the nonprofit organization for its annual collection. She said Wish Upon a Star will provide presents for 832 children in the Waltham area whose families could not otherwise afford them. The low- and middle-income families who qualify for the program also receive food for their holiday meals, Sanchez said.
"There are just a lot of children in need," Sanchez said, adding the organization still needs more donations for older children.
Bicycles of all sizes and colors filled the room Tuesday night as the off-duty firefighters tightened nuts and chains. Perry, who has two sons, said the firefighters spend time assembling the bikes instead of handing them to families in pieces to save parents the time and make Christmas morning more exciting for the children.
"When I was a lot younger my family went through some tough times when my father was sick and a lot of people stepped up to help my family out. This is a way that I can kind of give back," Perry said.
Though he has made donations to the program in the past, this was Lt. John Craig's first year volunteering to assemble the bikes.
"It's a learning process," Craig said laughing. "But there's a definite need to help out a bit."
Sanchez said parents will pick up donated gifts from The Salvation Army today and tomorrow. At the same time, the organization is struggling to meet its $100,000 fundraising goal though its kettle program, she said. The program, which runs through Christmas Eve, has volunteers stand outside businesses with red kettles ringing bells to raise donations for The Salvation Army. So far, Sanchez said, the organization has yet to reach its halfway mark.
Money from the kettle program goes to support The Salvation Army year-round helping fund daily feeding programs, a food pantry, an after-school program, and rental and utilities assistance.
The Salvation Army is the recipient of this year's Gifts of Hope campaign by the Daily News Tribune. Gifts of Hope donations will help fund the Waltham branch of The Salvation Army's Christmas Castle, holiday dinners, and other programs the organization runs year-round.
To contribute, send or drop off donations to The Salvation Army, 33 Myrtle St., Waltham, MA 02453.
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Wed Dec 19, 2007, By Nicole Haley/Daily News staff
12/18/07
WALTHAM -All Kevin Hyzak remembers from the early Saturday morning fire on Townsend Street was complete commotion.
"I was in bed. It was about 2 or 3 in the morning. All I remember was a sense of commotion. People started banging on the doors ... I wasn't sure what was going on," he said. "I tried to come down the stairs and I saw the billows of smoke coming out and I shot out into the street."
He and three others made it out safely.
Hyzak, an employee of Village Bank in Auburndale, said he was one of the four tenants renting a room in the more than 100-year-old Victorian at 9 Townsend St. Two others and the landlord all escaped; one other tenant was away on a business trip, Hyzak said.
He had been living in the home for close to six months. Following the fire Hyzak said he was put up in a hotel by the American Red Cross.
"The Red Cross has been absolutely incredible," he said. "They gave me a hotel for a few days. They gave me some cash to be able to buy food while I try get everything together."
Hyzak, originally from North Carolina, said he has a brother and a friend he'll be staying with in Worcester. He hopes to be able to move back to Waltham soon.
"Christmas is coming up so I guess I will be going to North Carolina. I guess you can say it's good timing," he said. "Everyone that lived there, I felt like was looking out for everyone else. (Landlord) Ted (Starr) was very kind and generous. He seemed to be feeling very guilty about the house burning down."
According to Deputy Fire Chief Cliff Richardson, five people lived at the home, including Starr who lived on the top floor and four occupants, who were renting rooms.
Yesterday afternoon, Starr declined comment to a Tribune photographer at the home, which stood boarded up with burned furniture and laundry strewn across the front lawn.
Richardson said Waltham firefighters initially stormed into the home but were forced out by the blaze sometime after 3 a.m.
"They did start an interior attack and the fire had grown to the point that we ordered everyone out of the building," he said, adding it took about two hours to get the blaze under control.
Richardson said the cause of the fire is still under investigation. The department is investigating whether a smoldering mattress placed outside the home could have ignited the blaze.
Representatives of the American Red Cross said that other tenants of the home were too distraught to speak with members of the media yesterday.
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Tue Dec 18, 2007, by Jeff Gilbride/Daily News staff
11/04/07
Fire officials say a transformer overloaded yesterday during the Waltham Open Studios event on Moody Street.
WALTHAM - An electrical fire ignited yesterday during Waltham Open Studios, forcing the art exhibit to close down temporarily and sending sparks flying onto parked cars.
The fire, believed to be caused by an overloaded transformer on a utility pole, broke out just after 4 p.m. yesterday, according to acting Deputy Fire Chief Roger Hebert of the Waltham Fire Department.
"It was outside the building the whole time," he said. "We had to wait for NStar to come turn the power off because we can't throw water on an electrical fire."
Only one fire engine company responded to put out the fire outside of 144 Moody Street, Building 18. No damage was reported to the building.
The fire occurred during the last hour of the 31st Annual Waltham Mills Artists Association Open Studios, cutting the event short for many artists and art enthusiasts.
Meghan Van Alstyne, 21, an artist from Jamaica Plain, traveled to Waltham to host a studio event for an artist who was vacationing.
"There was a nice big crowd watching the sparks shoot out of the telephone poll," she said. "I heard a lot of people say that they were in the middle of finalizing sales and they had to leave the building because they were at risk for a fire."
Local artist Carl West was inside the building when "the lights flickered and went out."
West's business partner Michael Bergman, witnessed the transformer's explosion first hand.
"It was a small fire that started on the poll and it became a bigger fire," Bergman said. "While we were there it burned through several (power cables) that fell onto cars."
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Sun Nov 04, 2007, by Jeff Gilbride/Daily News staff
11/02/07
WALTHAM - A Waltham man racked up 13 criminal charges and knocked out power to 2,100 NStar customers after his car snapped a utility pole in half while speeding down Crescent Street Halloween night, police said.
Police rescued David Cristofori, 39, from his 1995 Jeep Cherokee which caught fire after it struck the pole and tree shortly before 10 p.m.
Cristofori, arrested on his fifth drunken driving charge, was taken by ambulance to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center with a head laceration. He was listed in good condition last night, according to Zineb Marchoudi, spokesman for the hospital.
Before the crash, Cristofori led police on a chase, the details of which were unavailable last night.
A neighbor at the corner of Crescent Street and Norumbega Terrace, who asked that his name not be used, said he was home waiting for trick-or-treaters when he heard a large explosion.
``I was watching TV. I heard a crash and then I heard another big crash. He hit the pole and then the tree and the car caught flames,'' said the man. ``They ripped him out of the car. I thought he was dead.''
The neighbor said that in the past three decades on Crescent Street, speeding has been a major problem.
``My fence has been hit at least 15 times in the last 30 years,'' he said. ``I've talked to the mayor and the police. They say all you got to do is get a plate number. What are we going to do? Sit out here and wait for plate numbers? It's 30 mph and people are doing like 50.''
Yesterday, Verizon work crews were installing a new utility pole on Crescent Street, as downed wires draped across the front lawns of nearby houses.
Mike Durand, spokesman for NStar electric, said that 20 minutes after the accident was reported, workers restored power to 1,300 out of the 2,100 customers affected.
``We did what is called `switching.' Out in the field, we try to use other equipment whenever possible to bring in electricity around the damaged equipment,'' Durand said. ``There were about 650 customers that had their power restored with in 1« to 2« hours. ... The remaining customers, about 150, had power restored after 10 hours.''
Durand said NStar brought in a portable generator to restore power to a local nursing home ``as quickly as (they) could.''
Besides the drunken driving charge, Cristofori, of 206 Hammond St., has been charged with possession of cocaine, possession of Klonopin, a tranquilizer, possession of marijuana, driving to endanger, leaving the scene of an accident after knowingly causing property damage, failure to stop for a police officer, having a revoked license, improper care in turning, speeding, running a stop sign, failure to keep right and failure to stay in marked lanes.
As of last night, Cristofori still hadn't been arraigned on the charges, according to the Middlesex District Attorney's office.
The accident remains under investigation by the Waltham Police Accident Reconstruction Team.
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Fri Nov 02, 2007, by Jeff Gilbride/Daily News staff
10/14/07
WALTHAM - Swarms of children transformed the Central Fire Station on Lexington Street into their own personal playground yesterday.
During the early afternoon, an open house complete with pizza, soda and games marked the conclusion of a weeklong fire prevention program taught in Waltham middle schools.
Clad in red plastic helmets, the youth climbed ladders and ogled at sliding down fire poles and explaining the mechanics of ladder trucks to their eager minds.
"I can't believe how smart they are," said Chuck Vinciulla, a firefighter stationed at the Moody Street Fire Station. "They seem to really pick up on everything."
Vinciulla said he's helped teach the fire prevention program for the past five years.
"Kindergarten to third grade is generally the age group that we deal with," he said. "They are very responsive. Every year we get new questions. They are very aware and it's always a challenge to answer the new questions."
For Melissa Lelievre, a firefighter stationed at Central Station, she said the most rewarding aspect about teaching the children is seeing them remember fire safety lessons in later grades.
"When we talk to second- and third-graders, it's good to see what they remember from the year before," she said. "Hopefully in the event of an emergency, they would remember this stuff."
For Lt. Richard Grant, the purpose of the open house was more to celebrate the end of fire prevention week and to leave a lasting impression on local youth.
"We want them to see what life is like in a fire station and to let them know we are their friends," he said. "Plan your escape is this year's theme."
Mike Quinn Jr., a firefighter stationed at Central Station, stressed the importance of having children know their address and location in case of an emergency.
"We teach the kids that you do fire drills at school, you should really do a fire drill with your family," he said. "A lot of people don't realize 911 calls with cell phones do not go to the fire station, it goes to the state police. The kids really have to know where they are, their names and addresses."
For the children, the highlight of yesterday afternoon was Patches, a robotic remote control dog that speaks, squirts water and drives a fire truck. Patches accompanies firefighters when they speak at schools.
"I came down here to see the fire trucks and I came down here to see Patches," said Antonio Hernandez, 9, of Waltham. "They came to my school and brought him and they talked about him."
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Sun Oct 14, 2007, by Jeff Gilbride/Daily News staff
10/01/07
WESTON - The cause of an early morning fire that heavily damaged a home at 269-271 North Ave. on Sept. 14 has been determined to be electrical.
Initial reports from dispatchers at the Weston Fire Department had described the fire as "suspicious."
Investigating were the Weston Fire and Police departments and state police assigned to the Fire and Explosion Investigation team in the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
In a statement released by Jennifer Mieth, public information officer for the state's Department of Fire Services, investigators determined the fire started in the ceiling between the first and second floors at the site of an electrical cable.
No injuries were reported in the fire, which was extinguished by 30 firefighters from Weston, Wayland, Wellesley, Lincoln, Waltham and Newton. The home was not occupied at the time.
The historic home was an "Italianate" house dating back to the 1850s, according to Weston historian Pamela Fox. It was torn down last week at the request of Building Inspector Courtney W. Atkinson, who certified the site as unsafe.
The house had recently been sold by retired Weston Officer Tom Healey, who now lives in Lincoln, to developer Paul McMann on June 17, according to Bob McCormack of McCormack Adjusters.
The final closing price for the two-family home was $725,000, according to McCormack.
Link to story on the MetroWest Daily News Site on Mon Oct 01, 2007 by Michael Wyner and Gabriel Leiner/Daily News staff
09/25/07
Weston - The cause of a fire that started on the second floor of a Weston home and eventually burned the entire building to the ground on Sept. 14 is still under investigation, according to interim Chief Fire Administrator Joseph Daniele.
According to Weston Fire Lt. Justin Woodside, the fire was reported at a historic two-family home at 271 North Ave. at about 2:35 a.m.
No injuries were reported in the fire, which was extinguished by a total of 30 firefighters from Weston, Wayland, Wellesley, Lincoln, Waltham and Newton.
"We don’t know the cause and don’t know when we expect to find out," said Daniele.
Fire Capt. Donald Bardsley said crews are still examining the physical remains of the house.
The ongoing investigations follow those conducted by crews immediately after the fire, as Weston police and fire remained at the scene for about 12 hours on Sept. 14 collecting evidence with the help of a state fire marshal.
Initial reports from dispatchers at the Weston Fire Department described it as "a suspicious fire."
At the scene of the fire, Woodside added the fire was reported by a "passing motorist who did not say where he was coming from or where he was going."
The house had recently been sold by retired Weston policeman Tom Healey, who now lives in Lincoln, to developer Paul McMann on June 17, according to Bob McCormack of McCormack Adjusters.
The final closing price for the two-family home was $725,000, according to McCormack.
Daniele said the historic home was torn down last week at the request of Building Inspector Courtney W. Atkinson, who certified the site as an unsafe area.
According to "Farm Town to Suburb" by historian Pamela Fox, the house was an "Italianate house" dating back to the 1850s.
Link to story on the MetroWest Daily News Site on Tue Sep 25, 2007,by Gabriel Leiner
08/31/07
Waltham -A relentless drought has workers on the Waltham Fields Community Farm moving irrigation systems around the fields every day this month to keep crops hydrated.
"It's definitely really, really dry out there - even just walking around the farm the grass is crunchy," said farm Executive Director Meg Coward. "We're growing food but it's definitely been more of a challenge (this summer)."
The farm's six acres off Beaver Street are parched after an exceptionally dry August.
"We are in what they classify as a dry spell," said Charlie Foley, a National Weather Service meteorologist. "There is a considerable rainfall deficit."
The Boston area received just over 3 inches of rainfall this month, which is about 2<+>1<+>/<->2<-> inches below normal for this time of year, Foley said.
Waltham Fire Chief Richard Cardillo said the lack of rain can be an ominous for firefighters.
"We do have concern for the wooded areas, if a small fire started out there it could spread very easily," Cardillo said.
The effects of the drought are especially apparent looking at the brittle, brown grass covering Waltham Common and its trees that are already starting to change their colors.
"The water is a serious issue right now and the drought is very evident in the Waltham Common," said Mayor Jeannette A. McCarthy. "The tops of a couple of the maples right near the Sovereign Bank building are starting to turn red."
McCarthy said she is looking into digging a well at the common, which she says would be less costly to the city than installing a large sprinkler system.
"I'm trying to get a natural source of water," McCarthy said.
Since Waltham gets its water from a state agency, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, the city is not facing the same water restrictions that other towns with their own water supplies have been implementing.
"All you can do for a drought is have irrigation systems, which we've put into many of the playgrounds over the years," said Stewart LaCrosse, assistant director of the Consolidated Public Works Department. "I think this has been a dry summer, though it's not anything that we haven't seen in the past."
LaCrosse said somebody goes down to the common Monday through Friday to water plants by hand. LaCrosse said there is already a small irrigation system around the Circle of Remembrance, a veterans memorial on the common.
"I hope to be able to see some (more) irrigation out there maybe next year," said LaCrosse. He said drilling a well is a possibility but there is no guarantee it would provide enough water.
LaCrosse said the city works hard to maintain the common grounds and before the dry spell hit, he says, the grass looked greener than he had seen in some time.
"This spring it happened to look better than I've seen it in many, many years," LaCrosse said.
With the weekly Concerts on the Common series, summer festivals, and just the general rise in people walking outside during the summer, the grounds are heavily used and it takes more to maintain them, he said.
"We have so much activity on the common and we don't want to deter that either, we want people to use it and be able to enjoy it," LaCrosse said.
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Fri Aug 31, 2007,By Nicole Haley/Daily News staff
08/28/07
May 26-A male individual reported seeing smoke in the Sachar area. The area was checked due to the heavy smell of smoke. Officers confirmed the report of a large brush fire, and notified the Waltham Fire Department who extinguished the fire without incident.
Link to Story from the Brandies Universary Justice Police Log on Tuesday August 28, 2007
07/26/07
Firefighters in Waltham battled an accidental four-alarm blaze in a building that included Sal's Family Restaurant. Firefighters in Waltham battled an accidental four-alarm blaze in a building that included Sal's Family Restaurant.
WALTHAM -- For Salvatore "Sal" Pinzone it didn't really hit home that his restaurant was gone until last Friday, when workers digging through the rubble of the burned-out building found the safe where he kept the evening's receipts and the next day's change.
"It was like I was taking the last bones out of a body," Pinzone said, shaking his head, which at 79-and-a-half is heavy with gray curls. He was still wearing his white uniform -- now dusted with soot -- which reads "Sal's Pizza" in embroidery on the left side. "Everything that I worked for in my life."
An accidental fire on July 15 left a burned-out shell in place of the restaurant. It also destroyed California Convenience, a neighboring store. Waltham fire officials say that the fire started in the basement of Sal's, probably from an electrical malfunction or a gas leak that somehow ignited.
Someone who didn't know Sal's Family Restaurant, who'd never run into old friends there or eaten a plate of pasta with the establishment's famous marinara sauce, might see the contents of that safe as the sole undamaged material proof of that life: $189 in tens, fives, ones, and coins.
But generations of Sal's customers know better. They've told him so in dozens of letters, cards, and phone calls expressing their sympathies and thanks for all the good food and good times. Sitting at the kitchen table in his home, Pinzone picks out one letter in particular. It tells him that the sum of a good life isn't measured by what one builds, or by the material things left behind -- it's measured in good deeds, hospitality, and friends who stand with you when everything else is gone.
Pinzone still isn't sure if he will rebuild. The expense of replacing the equipment alone, never mind the building, is huge. He said he had finally reached a point where he didn't owe anything, and he doesn't know if he wants to amass new debt as he nears his ninth decade of life.
Santosh Suvedi, who owns California Convenience, said he's still in shock over the loss. At 35, he wants to rebuild -- if not on the same site, then somewhere else in the city. This was the first business he has had in this country since moving from Nepal 10 years ago. Seeing the venture he started only a few months ago in ashes is "frustrating," he said, but he's determined to build it back up, no matter how long it takes.
"Definitely I'm going to restart the business. I'm not going to give up, you know," said Suvedi, who is married and has a 6-year-old daughter. "I like the Waltham area -- Waltham as a city is very good."
In the meantime, Suvedi said he'll go back to a part-time job at Citizens Bank until he can save enough money to return to the business.
State Representative Peter Koutoujian, who lives down the street from Sal's, said he's trying to help Pinzone and Suvedi find government resources to help them rebuild. Among the options are disaster-relief loans from the Small Business Administration and help from the state Secretary of Economic Development.
Whatever the future holds, Pinzone cherishes the 41 years of the restaurant's existence.
"Sincere thanks to all our customers from the bottom of my heart -- to the ones who I knew their first name, and to the ones whose names I didn't know, for stepping through the door and allowing us to make an honest living," Pinzone said.
Link to Story from the Boston Globe on Thur. July 26, 2007, By Stephanie Siek, Globe Staff
More info on this story from the WFD Press Release
07/20/07
WALTHAM - The blaze that gutted Sal’s Family Restaurant and California Convenience store Sunday was an accident and not arson, authorities said yesterday.
Link to Story from the Boston Herald on Thur. July 20, 2007, By Jeff Gilbride/ Daily News Tribune
And the Boston Channel.com
More info on this story from the WFD Press Release
07/16/07
Waltham -A four-alarm fire at 470 Main St. destroyed two businesses yesterday morning, sending three firefighters to the hospital with minor injuries after a floor gave way during the blaze.
Sal's Family Restaurant, a fixture in the neighborhood for more than 40 years, and California Convenience store lay in ruins yesterday afternoon, with burnt waste and ashes littering Main Street near Newton Street. Both business were in the same building.
Fire Chief Richard Cardillo estimated the damage to be close to $2 million. He said the cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
"This was a pretty severe fire. Anytime you lose a business or a home I consider it a huge loss," Cardillo said. "I attended this restaurant as a kid."
According to Cardillo, Waltham firefighters were called to the blaze at 5:33 a.m. About 10 minutes into battling the fire, the first floor of the building collapsed and two firefighters fell through.
"What we're assuming is this started as a cellar fire. As the firefighters were investigating, the floor gave way," Cardillo said. "We were able to conduct a rescue and pull them out."
Cardillo praised firefighter Dwight Anderson who was lowered into the cellar to rescue his trapped comrades.
The two firefighters who fell through the floor and another firefighter who was helping to rescue them suffered minor injuries. They were treated and released from Newton Wellesly Hospital.
As of yesterday, the Waltham Fire Department had not released the names of the injured firefighters.
All 10 of Waltham's firefighting companies were sent to the fire and were assisted by firefighters from six communities - Arlington, Cambridge, Lexington, Newton, Watertown and Weston.
Waltham Mayor Jeannette McCarthy was at the scene of the fire yesterday speaking to local police, firefighters and residents.
"It's a very sad day because (Sal's) was a fixture in Waltham," McCarthy said. "They are a wonderful family. It's very sad."
Sal Pinzone, 79, ran the family owned eatery. Yesterday, his son, Michael, talked about the restaurant's legacy.
"We grew up here. Back in the late '60s this used to be the corner and all the local kids would hang out on the corner," Michael said, staring at the smoldering storefront. "My dad spent his entire life cooking. There isn't anyone in Waltham that doesn't know Sal's."
Michael said he hopes his father can rebuild the restaurant.
"I'd love to help him," he said. "If we have the opportunity, I'd love to."
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Thu Jun 07, 2007, By Jeff Gilbride/Daily News staff
07/16/07
WALTHAM -- For 41 years on Main Street, the Italian immigrant served lunchtime workers and families seeking affordable dinners, like the elbow macaroni slathered with tomato and meat sauce for $4.95 that he christened "American chop suey."
Salvatore Pinzone -- Sal to his customers -- catered to masses, except for Thanksgiving, when he cooked for his family.
Early yesterday, that legacy was reduced to blackened beams and broken glass, when a fire damaged much of Sal's Family Restaurant and a convenience store next door, at Newton Street.
Waltham Fire Chief Richard Cardillo said the cause of the fire, which was reported about 5 a.m. and claimed parts of the roof, was under investigation.
"What should my next step be at 79 1/2 ?" said Pinzone, who lives near the restaurant and in a rare occasion missed his 10 a.m. Mass. "So many people have been inconvenienced."
Several city residents, including Mayor Jeannette McCarthy, said they hope Sal's reopens.
"It's inbred," said McCarthy, who came with her family for the chop suey or fish and chips at least once a week. "This was a family restaurant."
The man who created one of Waltham's signature institutions came from Filicudi , an island near Sicily measuring fewer than 6 square miles. In 1947, 19-year-old Pinzone enjoyed working as a fisherman, but made half the pay of his senior counterparts. So when his father and uncle summoned him to Massachusetts, he boarded an American troop transport ship.
"I wanted to see what America had to offer me, so I went on my own," he said.
He helped his father and uncle at their new restaurant, Colonial Kitchen in Waltham, then moved on to enlist in and cook for the National Guard. But he knew he wanted his own place.
After 14 attempts, he opened Sal's in 1966 at an old bakery on Main Street. A few years later, he bought an adjacent supermarket to convert to a dining room, with blue '50s-style booths that filled up for lunch and dinner every day . Lately, Pinzone has arrived by 10 a.m. seven days a week, and on Tuesday mornings he's been driving to Costco to spend $700 on groceries.
"This was his kingdom," said Pinzone's son Michael, 49, who lives in Long Island, N.Y., but was at the scene yesterday. "This was everything he owned."
Three years ago, as his wife urged him to retire, Pinzone bought the cleaners next door.
His son Jon, an artist from Waltham, created an elaborate countertop of gold leaf suspended in polyurethane and a fish tank that hid in a column. Pinzone had hoped to open the bar this fall.
"It's awful," said Salvatore Jr., 40, who, like Pinzone's five other children, grew up helping out at the restaurant. He stayed on for 17 years as a chef and manager. "It's like I lost one of my closest friends."
The elder Salvatore did not know whether his insurance would cover the $100,000 he said he has spent on the bar, or if he would be able to reopen. With smoke wafting from the interior of charred beams yesterday, he prepared to drive home. "Son of a gun," he said, shaking his head.
Edmund Tarallo, a ward councilor, said the restaurant can count on the support of city officials if the Pinzones decide to rebuild.
"It was the flavor of the family-ness and the personal touch that Sal and his family put into the restaurant. That went a long way to making it something part of the community."
He said city officials could help with the "permitting process and those sorts of things" to allow them to rebuild as fast as possible.
"Every generation has taken their turn of eating Sal's pizza and their fried clams," said Lori Kelly, 44, a longtime city resident and customer, whose husband is a ward councilor. "It's gonna be definitely a loss to the community. I would hope that they rebuild. It's just always been there, people that you recognize working behind the counter. Pizza places come and go, but this is the same family."
Link to Story from the Boston Globe on Thur. July 16, 2007, By April Yee Globe Correspondent
More info on this story from the WFD Press Release
07/16/07
Two firefighters had to be rescued from a four-alarm fire in Waltham yesterday morning that torched two businesses causing $2 million in damage.
Link to Story from the Boston Herald on Thur. July 16, 2007, By Jeff Gilbride/ Daily News Tribune
More info on this story from the WFD Press Release
07/15/07
WALTHAM -- Dwight Andersen, a Waltham firefighter, was nearing the end of a 24-hour overtime shift when the alarm rang around 5 a.m. this morning. A convenience store and family restaurant were ablaze on Main Street.
Shortly after Andersen arrived on the scene, he learned that two firefighters had fallen through a floor and plunged 10 feet into the basement. Andersen was lowered into the burning building, and pulled the two men to safety. Neither was injured, but they were rushed to Newton-Wellesley Hospital to be treated for exhaustion.
The fire destroyed much of the interior of California Convenience Store, as well as Sal's Family Restaurant, a Waltham institution that has served up American chop suey and fish and chips to regulars for 41 years.
This morning, family and neighbors crowded behind the yellow police tape at the intersection of Newton and Main streets. Salvatore Pinzone, 79, the owner of Sal's, said he had just finished building a bar that he had hoped to open this fall.
A woman stopped by the scene, where firefighters still worked into the afternoon, and offered her sympathy to Pinzone.
He kissed her hand, and said, "Pazienza."
Link to Story from the Boston Globe on Thur. July 15, 2007, By April Yee Globe Correspondent
View the photo gallery on Boston.com
More info on this story from the WFD Press Release
07/12/07
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Thur. July 12, 2007, By Jeff Gilbride/Daily News staff
View Reprint of Daily News Tribune Article on WFD Website
07/07/07
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Mon. July 09, 2007, By Jeff Gilbride/Daily News staff
View Reprint of Daily News Tribune Article on WFD Website
Photos of Lt. Kresser's Last Shift Submitted by Rick Mitchell, Courtsey of Waltham Firefighters Welfare & Relief
Lt. William Kresser stands beside his Fire Engine, Engine 1.
Lt. Kresser holds honorary plaque surrounded by his fellow firefighters.
06/07/07
Link to Story from the Daily news Tribune on Thu Jun 07, 2007, By Jeff Gilbride/Daily News staff
View Reprint of Daily News Tribune Article on WFD Website
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