Around Town

Fallen Watertown Firefighter Remembered on Fourth Anniversary of His Death

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Members of the Watertown Fire Department salute their fallen colleague, Joe Toscano, on the fourth anniversary of his death at a fire on Merrifield Avenue. The Watertown Fire Department came out in force to honor a colleague lost while fighting a fire in the East End four years ago. Firefighters and the family of Joe Toscano gathered on Bigelow Avenue, at the square dedicated to his memory. The sign bearing his name sits just down Merrifield Avenue from the home where the fire took place. Fire Chief Bob Quinn hung a wreath from the pole holding the sign marking Firefighter Joseph A. Toscano Square during the cermony.

Joseph Toscano

Fire Department Cancels Ceremony for Fallen Watertown Firefighter

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The sign erected in honor of fallen Watertown Firefighter Joseph Toscano at the corner of Merrifield Avenue and Bigelow Avenue in East Watertown. The Watertown Fire Department cancelled plans to honor Joseph Toscano on the third anniversary of the firefighter’s death due to concerns over the Coronavirus. “This decision has been made taking the orders of the Governor into consideration. We hope that everyone will keep him and his family in their thoughts and prayers at some point tomorrow,” said Watertown Fire Chief Bob Quinn. The Fire Department had planed three minutes of silence at 10:16 a.m Tuesday, followed by a salute to Toscano.

Around Town

Watertown Firefighters Attend Graduations of Children of Lost Comrades

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Jocelyn Orangio, daughter of late-Watertown Fire Chief Mario Orangio, was joined by members of the Watertown Fire Department at her graduation from Clark University. Firefighter pictured, L-R: Captain J. Russo, Deputy Chief R. Nicholson, Firefighter T. Donovan, Deputy Chief T. McManus, Lieutenant R. Mannix, Lieutenant E. Allen, Firefighter T. Davis, Firefighter G. McManus. Members of the Watertown Fire Department showed they do not forget their fallen colleagues by attending their children’s college graduations this week. On Thursday, several members of the Watertown Fire Department headed to Bridgewater State for the graduation of Alyssa Toscano. She is the daughter of Joe Toscano, who died while fighting a fire in East Watertown two years ago.

Police/Fire

Watertown Firefighters Remember Fallen Colleague Two Years After His Death

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Watertown Firefighters salute Joseph Toscano on the second anniversary of the firefighter’s death. Two years after Watertown Firefighter Joseph Toscano lost his life at a fire in East Watertown, members of the Watertown Fire Department gathered to pay their respects. Sunday’s ceremony took place at the corner of Bigelow and Merrifield avenues, just down the street from the home where the fire occurred. The corner was named Firefighter Joseph A. Toscano Square last year on March 17, the one-year anniversary of his death. The event was attended by hundreds of people and drew media from around the region.

Police/Fire

See How to Watch Ceremony for Fallen Watertown Firefighter at National Memorial

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Fallen Watertown Firefighter Joseph Toscano will be honored at the national memorial for firefighters on Sunday, and you can watch a live feed. The Town of Watertown provided the following information:

This coming Sunday, Firefighter Joseph Toscano, who died in the line of duty on March 17, 2017, is being memorialized by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation at their memorial in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The following is a link to the live broadcast of the event which starts at 10am. Click Here for Link to Live Feed

Around Town

Memorial to Fallen Firefighter Dedicated Near Where He Gave His Life Serving Watertown

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The corner of Merrifield and Bigelow avenues in East Watertown was the site of a tragedy a year ago, but on Saturday it was a place where family, friends and fellow firefighters came to celebrate the memory of Joseph Toscano. A memorial was unveiled at that corner to honor Toscano, who died in the line of duty while fighting a fire at a home on Merrifield Avenue on March 17, 2017. Current and retired members of the Watertown Fire Department came out for the ceremony in large numbers and were joined by honor guards from Watertown Fire, Watertown Police and members of other fire departments. Two ladder trucks formed an arch over Bigelow Avenue and a podium was set up for the ceremony. Joe’s widow, Maureen, said that all this would have been strange for Toscano.

Police/Fire

Dedication of Fallen Watertown Firefighter’s Memorial Taking Place on March 17

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A year after the Watertown Firefighter Joseph Toscano lost his life during a fire the Town and the Watertown Fire Department will honor him with the dedication of a memorial in East Watertown. The public is invited to the ceremony for Toscano, which will take place on Saturday, March 17, 2018, exactly a year after his “last alarm.” A plaque will be unveiled at the corner of Merrifield and Bigelow Avenues. A reception will be held afterward at the Metaxas/Hellenic Community Center, 25 Bigelow Ave., Watertown. The plaque and the ceremony has been sponsored by a gift from Watertown Savings Bank.

Police/Fire

Memorial for Fallen Watertown Firefighter to be Unveiled A Year After the Tragedy

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In March, a year after Watertown Firefighter Joseph Toscano lost his life fighting a fire, a memorial in his name will be unveiled near the East End home where the tragedy occurred. 

At Tuesday night’s Town Council meeting, East End Town Councilor Angeline Kounelis announced the date of the dedication. “Eleven months ago a tragedy occurred in our community,” Kounelis said. “There was a loss of life. Firefighter Joseph Toscano answered his final alarm on Merrifield Avenue.” On March 17, 2018 at 10 a.m., a plaque will be unveiled at the corner of Merrifield Avenue and Bigelow Avenue to memorialize Toscano.