Police/Fire

Budget Increase Allows Watertown Fire Department to Run Two Ambulances

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The Watertown Fire Department will now be running two ambulances in an effort to respond to the increasing number of medical calls. By adding additional staffing, the Watertown Fire Department plans to run a second ambulance, which will enable them to cover more medical calls in Watertown, and cut down the time it takes to reach someone in need of medical attention. Currently the Fire Department runs an Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulance, that can provided paramedic level care to patients. The WFD has a second ambulance that currently sits idle. By adding two more people to a shift, that ambulance can hit the streets with a Basic Life Support (BLS) crew.

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.

Government

Increases for Police, Fire, Schools Library & DPW Included in Watertown’s FY2020 Budget

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Watertown Town Manager Michael Driscoll revealed the Fiscal Year 2020 budget on Tuesday. Next year’s Watertown Budget includes money for an additional police office, a new leadership role in the Fire Department, and at the Library. Tuesday night, Town Manager Michael Driscoll presented the Fiscal Year 2020 budget to the Town Council. The total operating budget is $147.76 million, which is an increase of 3.89 percent or $5.53 million. When Driscoll presented the budget projection in October, there was a shortfall of about $800,000, but Tuesday he said the Town’s revenues came in close to $1.5 million above the projections.

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.

Obituaries

OBIT: Paul McCaffrey, 79, Retired Watertown Fire Chief

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Retired Watertown Fire Chief Paul McCaffrey. Watertown Fire Chief Bob Quinn announced the death of retired Fire Chief Paul McCaffrey on Feb. 24, 2019 of occupational cancer. He was 79 years old. The following obituary was from the Nardone Funeral Home:

Fire Chief Paul McCaffrey was born in Boston, Mass.

Deputy Chief

Watertown Fire Department Honors Promoted & New Firefighters

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Ryan Nicholson receives his badge from his wife after he was sworn in as Deputy Fire Chief as Fire Chief Bob Quinn watches. The Watertown Fire Department celebrated the promotion of two of its members, including the newest deputy fire chief, and welcomed four new firefighters at a recent ceremony. The promotions and swearings in took place at the Watertown Free Public Library on Friday afternoon. Fire Chief Robert Quinn announced the promotions and welcomed the new firefighters. All were sworn in by Town Clerk John Flynn.

Police/Fire

Fire in Commercial Building Caused by Lint Fire in Dryer

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A fire that caused smoke damage to a building on School Street in Watertown started in a dryer at the business, fire officials said. On Jan. 18, 2019, a passerby spotted black smoke coming from the business at 111 School Street and alerted Watertown Fire and Police departments at about 8:14 p.m.

The Watertown Fire Department responded, and discovered a fire in DMB Linens. Firefighters extinguished the fire and limited the fire damage to a pair of commercial dryers. Smoke damage, however, extended through the entire building, according to a report from the Watertown Fire Department.

Fire

Christmas Eve Fire Damages Watertown Home, Started in Chimney

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Watertown Firefighters battled a blaze at a home on Flint Road on Christmas Eve. A fire alarm struck at 4:24 p.m. on Dec. 24 for a fire at 25 Flint Road. The fire started in a chimney on the first floor of the 2.5 story multi-family home, according to Watertown Fire Capt. Ryan Nicholson. “Upon arrival crews found that a fire had spread from the fireplace on the first floor,” Nicholson said.