Fire Safety

Watertown Fire Department Spreading Fire Safety to Youth, Seniors With SAFE Grant

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Watertown Firefighters visited every elementary school this year and also installed fire alarms for seniors around town with the help of the fire safety grants. In January the Watertown Fire Department received $5,407 in Student Awareness of Fire Education (S.A.F.E.) grant and $2,813 in Senior SAFE grant. “We applied for the grant and got it in 2017,” said Capt. Ryan Nicholson, the WFD’s S.A.F.E and Senior SAFE Program Coordinator. “It was the first time we got it in about 10 years.” In the Spring, S.A.F.E. Educators Firefighter Jeffrey Pugliese Jr. and Firefighter Shane Gleason visited every third grade classroom at each of Watertown’s three elementary schools.

Around Town

Work of Watertown Police, Firefighters Recognized by Post Office with Special Stamp

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The U.S. Postal Service honored Watertown’s police officers and firefighters  Thursday with the unveiling of a stamp recognizing first responders. 

The Post Office is presenting local departments with a plaque featuring a larger image of the limited edition stamps. Linda Beattie, manager of Watertown’s three post offices, presented the plaques to Watertown Police Chief Michael Lawn, Watertown Deputy Fire Chief Dan Tardif, and Watertown Firefighter and EMT David Meagher during a ceremony at the Watertown Police Station. “For the work they did with the Boston Marathon bombers, we wanted to recognize them for their heroic actions,” Beattie said. “It has a special meaning for this town.” The stamp features three figures: a red firefighter holding an ax, a white paramedic holding a medical bag, and a blue police office shining a flashlight into the dark background partially filled with smoke.

Police/Fire

Fire Destroys Several Vehicles at Watertown Auto Body Shop

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A late night fire at a Watertown auto body shop damaged nine vehicles to varying degrees. 

On Oct. 3, 2018, the Watertown Fire Department responded to a fire at Perfection Auto Body at 2:29 a.m.

Firefighters gained access to the business on Pleasant Street and found several vehicles ablaze and they put out the flames. The fire started in one vehicle and spread to eight others, according to a report from the Watertown Fire Department. It totaled or damaged nine vehicles, according to Watertown Police Sgt. Thomas Grady.

Police/Fire

Watertown Fire Department Teaming With Domino’s for Fire Safety Week & Hosting Open House

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The week of Oct. 7 to 13 is National Fire Prevention Week, and the Watertown Fire Department has a couple of events plan, including a partnership with Dominos and and open house at the Fire Headquarters. The Watertown Fire Department provided the following information:

Each year for a week in October we try to bring awareness to fire risks and educate the public on how they can make their homes safer. This year’s Fire Prevention Week focus, which runs from Oct. 7 through Oct.

Police/Fire

Watertown’s New Fire Chief Remembers Fallen Colleagues; Wants a Progressive, Safe Department

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Watertown’s new Fire Chief said he will continue the tradition of his predecessors and work to make the department progressive and well trained while ensuring members of the department are safe and healthy. He also remembered a pair of recently lost members of the Watertown Fire Department. Robert “Bob” Quinn officially became the Chief of the Watertown Fire Department Thursday afternoon, after being sworn in in front of a packed room in the Watertown Library’s Watertown Savings Bank Room. After being introduced by Town Manager Michael Driscoll and taking the oath from Town Clerk John Flynn, Quinn said: “It is certainly a very proud moment in my career becoming chief of this great Department. I look forward to serving the citizens of Watertown in this role.”

Bob Quinn

Watertown’s Next Fire Chief Named by Town Manager

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{UPDATED Sept. 6 at 9:05 a.m.: The location fo the swearing in has been changed, see below}

Watertown’s next fire chief will be a familiar face — Bob Quinn — a 31 year veteran of the department who has served as provisional chief for the past 10 months. 

Town Manager Michael Driscoll announced that Quinn would be the new Fire Chief on Wednesday. He succeeds Mario Orangio, who retired in the summer of 2017 and died of cancer in November 2017. Quinn will be sworn in during ceremony at the Watertown Free Public Library on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. He said he was excited to be named chief. “I’m very excited to take on this responsibility for the Fire Department,” Quinn said.

Police/Fire

Watertown Firefighter Graduates from Massachusetts Fire Academy

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Watertown Firefighter Matthew Callahan graduated from the Massachusetts Fire Academy Training 10 week training program. He was one of 35 graduates in the 264th class of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy in Stow. Fire Chief Bob Quinn announced the graduation of Watertown’s latest firefighter, who attended the 10-week course. “Firefighter Callahan will return to work next week to serve the citizens of Watertown,” Quinn said. “We are very excited to have him back.”

Cancer

Watertown Fire Department Making Efforts to Avoid Risks of Cancer

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The past 18 months have been a difficult for the Watertown Fire Department, with two deaths within the department, and Fire Chief Bob Quinn wants to take steps to prevent further tragedies. In March 2017, Firefighter Joe Toscano collapsed and died from heart failure while fighting a fire. Then in October, Fire Chief Mario Orangio died after months battling pancreatic cancer, which is one of the types of cancer which firefighters are more at risk of getting. This year, Quinn has put an emphasis on the health and safety of his firefighters. This includes strength, conditioning, nutrition, stress managment, as well as reducing the risk of on-the-job cancer.