Around Town

Watertown Fire Department to Hold 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony on 20th Anniversary

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The Watertown Fire Department will mark the 20th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001 on Saturday at the Main Fire Station. The Town of Watertown sent out the following information about the ceremony:

The Watertown Fire Department will be conducting a brief remembrance ceremony for the 20th Anniversary of 9/11 on Saturday, September 11, 2021 at 9:55 a.m. at Fire Station Headquarters, 99 Main St., Watertown, MA. Everyone is welcome to attend. Plan of Events

9:55 a.m. – Apparatus roll out of bays to appropriate location in front of station.

Fire

2 Alarm Fire Damages Watertown Restaurant Near Galen Street

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A fire started in the basement of a Watertown restaurant, and significant damage was done by the two-alarm blaze. A fire alarm rang at Jana Grill & Bakery, at the corner of Watertown and Galen streets, at 10:18 p.m. on Aug. 30. The Watertown Fire Department arrived about 10:30 p.m. and smoke was found in the basement. Watertown Engine 1 and Ladder 1 responded to the first alarm.

Police/Fire

Watertown Nursing Facility Thanks First Responders, Looks to Show Them Things Have Changed Under New Management

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Vero Health CareVero Watertown thanked members of the Watertown Police and Fire departments for a cookout, recently. Pictured, from left, Fire Lt. Glen McManus, State Rep. Steve Owens, Vero Health Care President/COO Uma Rajagopal, Police Officer Ryan Vaughan, and Vero Watertown Administrator Tim Churchill. The operators of a Watertown skilled nursing facility that has struggled recently wanted to show that the place is under new management, and invited over the first responders, who visit on a regular basis, to thank them. At the end of June, Vero Health & Rehab of Watertown held a cookout for the members of the Watertown Fire and Police departments, and also invited State Rep. Steve Owens to come by and tour the facility. The facility on Coolidge Hill Road came under scrutiny after reports of possible elder abuse and hundreds of 911 calls coming from there, including sometimes from patients.

Fire Award

Watertown Resident Receives Award for Bravery During a House Fire

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Watertown Fire DepartmentTeflon Donovan, center, receive the Medal of Commendation from Watertown Fire Chief Bob Quinn, left, and Watertown Fire Capt. Eric Allen, right, for saving a life during a house fire in April. The Watertown Fire Department awarded a resident for his quick action and bravery which prevented another resident from being harmed in a fire in April. On April 13, Teflon Donovan was sleeping in his home on Swetts Court when he awoke to the smell of smoke and the sound of a smoke alarm. He got up to investigate where the smoke was coming from. Donovan thought it was from the stove, but when it checked he found that was not the source.

Police/Fire

Fire Damages Apartment in Large Complex South of the Charles River

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A fire started in an apartment in an apartment complex on Watertown Street on Wednesday, but was doused before it spread within the unit or to other apartments. The Watertown Fire Department received the fire alarm at 1:31 p.m. on Wednesday. The fire began in the kitchen area of a unit in the Watertown Square Apartments, located at 20 Watertown Street. No one was home when the fire began, but it was discovered by an alert employee, said Watertown Fire Capt. Eric Allen, the WFD’s Fire Investigator. “There was a maintenance worker that was on the roof of the building that saw smoke coming out of one of the vents,” Allen said.

Police/Fire

Watertown Firefighter Graduates from Massachusetts Firefighting Academy

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Watertown Firefighter Christopher Filder graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy on May 7. The following announcement was provide by the Watertown Fire Department and the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy:

Firefighter Christopher Fidler graduated from the Massachusetts Fire Academy Training 10 week training program on May 7, announced Watertown Fire Chief Robert Quinn. 

“Firefighter Fidler will return to work (this) week to serve the citizens of Watertown,” Quinn said. “We are very excited to have him back.” The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy provided the following information about the training that Fidler and the other graduates received:

State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey and Deputy State Fire Marshal Maribel Fournier announced the graduation of 34 firefighters from 15 fire departments completed the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s 50-day Career Recruit Firefighting Training Program on May 7, 2021. Class #291 trained at the Stow campus and Class #BW10 trained at the Bridgewater campus.

Car Fire

Fire Damages Three Vehicles at Watertown Rock Climbing Gym

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A fire that began in an SUV parked in the parking lot of Central Rock Gym also damaged two vehicles parked nearby. The blaze at the gym on Acton Street was reported at 6:31 p.m. on April 26, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. “Upon arrival, officers observed a 2016 Ford Edge to be fully engulfed in flames,” O’Connor said. Watertown Firefighters arrived and saw that the fire had extended to two other vehicles — a Jeep Compass and a Subaru Outback. Deputy Fire Chief Rob Iannettta was the incident commander and ordered two hoses to be used to extinguish the fire, said Watertown Assistant Fire Chief Ryan Nicholson.

Police/Fire

Watertown Assistant Fire Chief Accredited by Mass. Fire Service Commission

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Watertown Fire DepartmentWatertown Assistant Fire Chief Ryan Nicholson. The following information was provided by the Massachusetts Fire Service Commission:

The Massachusetts Fire Service Commission granted accreditation to Assistant Chief Ryan Nicholson of the Watertown Fire Department on March 18, 2021 who has demonstrated the required fire service experience, education, and certifications for accreditation. This accreditation is granted through the Massachusetts Fire Service Commission, a gubernatorial appointed board that has established a process for uniform credentialing for the level of fire chief. Palmer Fire Chief Alan Roy, who serves as chair of the commission says, “The program establishes requirements based on education, training, and experience in areas relevant to serving as fire chief. It establishes benchmarks for training in fire and emergency service management so that chiefs may be better prepared to serve their department and their community.” The applicant’s documentation is reviewed by a subcommittee of the Massachusetts Fire Service Commission to determine if the individual has attained a minimum level of credits for education, training, and experience.