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August 2004 Incidents
October News Stories
10:01:04
WALTHAM -- A woman from Singapore who has been living in the city with her sister sustained several life-threatening injuries yesterday when she was hit by a car at the intersection of Lake Street and Seminole Avenue.
The 64-year-old woman's name was not released, but police said she has been living in Waltham for a while and does not speak English.
Fire officials said the woman was taken to Lahey Clinic in Burlington by ambulance where she is being treated for a fractured leg and knee, broken ribs, a severe head injury and several bruises and lacerations.
The accident, which occurred about 7:51 a.m. is under investigation.
Capt. William Stanton said they did not realize how serious the accident was yesterday until they interviewed the victim and her sister through an interpreter at the hospital. After the interview, police said they sent reconstruction crews to the scene.
It was unclear yesterday how or why the woman was hit, he said.
Stanton said they do not know if the victim stepped off the curb, because her sister was walking in front of her and did not see the accident.
The driver of the 2002 Mercedes sedan that hit her has not been charged and was not injured. The driver's name was not released yesterday.
Police Officer Tracy Krekorian was treated and released at an area hospital for minor injuries to her shoulder after she got into an accident on her way to the scene, Police Chief Edward Drew said.
Story from the Daily News Tribune on Friday, October 1, 2004 By Jennifer Roy / Tribune Staff Writer.
10:01:04
WORCESTER -- Six columns symbolizing collective strength and six intersecting beams of light illuminating lasting bravery will serve as the ultimate memorial for the Worcester firefighters killed in a 1999 warehouse blaze.
The winning design, chosen after a nationwide competition that was whittled to five entries earlier this year and unveiled at a press conference yesterday, was proposed by landscape architectural firm Gala Simon Associates of Watertown.
"It's going to be something spectacular when it's done," she said.
Click here for the collected stories from several sources
10:04:04
Don't be alarmed if you see Waltham firefighters dragging their gear through the halls of local elementary schools this week.
They are just participating in National Fire Prevention Week -- Oct. 3-10 -- an effort to keep children safe and teach them skills that will protect them in a fire.
Firefighters Mike Murphy, Chuck Vinciulla, Charlie Frost and Ismael "Izzy" Torres will conduct programs in city elementary schools, Lt. Jim Perry said.
"They are a good group of guys. They enjoy going into the schools," he said.
The men -- along with Patches, the robotic fire dog -- will teach children safety tips including how to stop, drop and roll, create an escape plan for their family and to stay low under smoke.
"Patches is part of the team," Perry said. "Kids love the dog."
Murphy, Vinciulla, Frost and Torres will be at Fitzgerald and MacArthur at the old Northeast today, St. Jude's tomorrow, Our Lady's and Whittemore Wednesday and Plympton at Banks and Northeast Thursday. Friday's programs will be held at Stanley and Bright schools.
"The program has been in place for quite a few years," said Perry. "It is very interactive, they get the kids involved in the program."
The department will hold an open house at the Central Station, 175 Lexington St., Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.
The Newton Fire Department will also hold an open house at their station at 195 Crafts St. It will be tomorrow from 1 to 5 p.m.
"This event allows us to reach out to the community and arm local families with fire safety tips and procedures," Chief Joseph LaCroix said in a press release. "Our open house allows families to get together and better prepares them to react if a fire does start."
For more information, contact Lt. Robert Rockey at the Newton Fire Department at 617-796-2230.
Perry can be reached in Waltham at 781-314-3710.
Story from the Daily News Tribune on Monday, October 4, 2004 By Jennifer Roy / Tribune Staff Writer.
10:05:04
WALTHAM -- Two Waltham High School students were injured on their way to school yesterday morning when the car they were traveling in went out of control in front of 770 Trapelo Road and swerved into a tree, police said.
Fire officials said the sun glared in the driver's eyes as she tried to change the radio station just before 7 a.m.
Residents of 770 Trapelo Road said they did not see or hear the one-car crash.
The front end of the car was crushed, and rescue crews had to use the Jaws of Life to pry open the passenger-side door, fire officials said.
The names of the female victims, ages 17 and 16, were not released.
Officer Thomas Gormley said both were taken by ambulance to Beth Israel Hospital.
He said the driver was admitted and expected to be held overnight.
Fire officials said the teen told them she was dizzy and had knee and neck pain. She also had a bloody nose.
The passenger was expected to be treated and released yesterday for a broken finger, Gormley said.
Fire officials said the teen's knees were pinned against the dashboard of the car when they cut it open to free her.
Story from the Daily News Tribune on Tuesday, October 5, 2004 By Jennifer Roy / Tribune Staff Writer.
10:06:04
WALTHAM -- Suspicious white powder found on a pallet on the south loading dock at the postal annex at 200 Smith St. yesterday morning has tested negative for radiation and is expected to be deemed harmless today.
Fire officials said a post office employee reported the powder just before 6:30 a.m., after he swept a sample into a plastic bag and put it in the freezer to preserve it.
The call prompted a Tier 1 response from the city and the Metro HazMat Team, but mail service was not affected, officials said.
Waltham Health Inspector Mike Delfino said the sample may not have been handled properly, but was not compromised.
"The fact that the guy swept it up is kind of strange," said Deputy Fire Chief Steve Turner.
John Zuppe, the city's assistant director of public health, said the sample was taken to the state lab in Jamaica Plain and tested negative in the first of three tests. A test for anthrax takes 24 hours, he said.
Turner said yesterday was not the first time the fire department has responded to a potentially hazardous situation at the Smith Street annex.
White powder found in a mail-sorting machine in January tested negative. That sample was also found and bagged by annex employees, fire officials said yesterday.
Fire officials were called to the annex twice in 2002 and three times in October 2001, according to reports.
In three of those instances, a suspicious white powder found on the floor tested negative. White powder found in a sealed envelope also tested negative.
And in another instance, an unknown white substance on a package turned out to be plaster particles.
"As far as I know we've never found anything," Lt. Mike Burke said.
He said the fire department was flooded with calls, especially from homes, about suspicious white powder after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.
Delfino said yesterday's response is "standard procedure."
A Tier 1 response is defined as hazard and risk assessment and requires five technicians, fire officials said. There are four tiers.
Officials cleared the scene just before 9 a.m.
Story from the Daily News Tribune on Wednesday, October 6, 2004 By Jennifer Roy / Tribune Staff Writer.
10:07:04
At about 4:40 on Saturday morning, Campus Police received a fire alarm from Collins Hall. Officers on scene were able to track the alarm to a room on the second floor, and traced the cause to burnt food in an oven. The alarm was then silenced, and three residents of the apartment will be charged judicially for the offense.
Dispatch received a fire alarm for the Copley North dorms on Thursday evening. Officers arrived on the scene and searched the building floors along with the Waltham Fire Department, and they were able to trace the alarm to burnt popcorn in the microwave of one of the suites. The offending resident will be charged judicially.
Story from the Bentley College Vanguard on Thursday, October 7, 2004 By Keith Carrol.
10:07:04
WALTHAM -- The cause of a fast-moving fire that ripped through a rented home in Dennis killing two adults and three children Monday may never be known, a fact that is upsetting to local fire officials.
"It obviously points out how important smoke detectors are," said Waltham fire Lt. Ron Belida. "We want to get that message out there."
Belida said a working smoke alarm, which was not present in the Dennis home, can mean the difference between life and death.
"These life-saving devices are only effective when they're installed in correct locations and are working properly," Belida wrote in a press release.
This week is National Fire Prevention Week with the theme Test Your Smoke Alarms.
"Statistics show that having working smoke alarms in your home can double your chances of survival if a fire occurs," Belida wrote. "Smoke alarms give you time to leave the building before your escape route is blocked by deadly smoke, heat and toxic gases."
According to state fire regulations and Massachusetts law, each automatic smoke detector within a residential building must be continually maintained and work at all times. They should be inspected periodically and be clear of dirt and dust and replaced every 10 years.
Current fire codes, which apply to new construction or home additions, state all smoke detectors must be hard wired, interconnected and have battery backup.
"This ensures that all smoke detectors will sound simultaneously, even if the electric power fails," Belida wrote.
For more information, call the city's fire prevention bureau at 781-314-3710.
Story from the Daily News Tribune on Thursday, October 7, 2004 By Jennifer Roy / Tribune Staff Writer.
10:07:04
Sunday evening, a fire alarm was received for the third floor of Slade Hall. Officers were dispatched, and were unable to notice any sure signs of smoke to cause the alarm at first, but eventually observed candles and cigarette ashes within the room. One of the residents at first thought a hair dryer may have caused the alarm, and denied that she smoked until the evidence was pointed out. Police advised her that smoking within the dorms was prohibited, along with possession of candles, and the residents will be charged judicially.
A fire alarm was received for the second floor Miller Hall last Tuesday evening. Officers went to the room with the Waltham Fire Department, and discovered that the cause was burnt popcorn in a microwave. The officers waited for the residents of the room to return to the dorm, at which point one of the students had admitted to the popcorn overcooking. The student will be charged for the violation.
Story from the Bentley College Vangard
10:26:04
WALTHAM -- A two-alarm fire that tore through a two-family home on Gordon Street and left several people homeless Friday night is being blamed on faulty wiring, fire officials said. Yesterday, Mario Saavedra and his family went to the house to salvage what is left
Story from the Daily News Tribune on Tuesday, October 26, 2004 By Jennifer Roy / Tribune Staff Writer
10:29:04
WALTHAM -- One person was arrested and a home was damaged Wednesday night after a drunken driver hit another car, sending it into a house on Bacon Street, police said. Julie A. Ganno, 20, of 12 Union St., Watertown, was charged with operating under the influence of alcohol
Story from the Daily News Tribune on Friday, October 29, 2004 By Jennifer Roy / Tribune Staff Writer.
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