Above: The SFD has been busy over the past few months responding to car crashes, fires, and more. (images cropped from Facebook)
My last public safety update focused on service members in blue. It’s time to take a look at what the station down the hill has been up to.
Unlike the police, the Southborough Fire Department doesn’t issue logs. But they do share occasional updates on Facebook. Here are highlights from the last few months. They include several crashes and a couple of fires.
The SFD reports it was very busy on April 8th:
Not 1, not 2 but 3 multiple calls at once this morning, including this motor vehicle crash on Framingham Road. One occupant was transported to UMass-University with non-life threatening injuries.
Just two days prior, the SFD assisted Ashland with a blaze:
Southborough crews responded mutual-aid to Ashland yesterday for a 2-alarm multi-family residential structure fire on Union St. Ashland Fire Department and mutual-aid departments made an aggressive exterior attack saving the large addition on the rear of fire building. All occupants escaped and no injuries were reported. Unfortunately, the historical front section of the building was a complete loss and demolished quickly due to safety concerns. Great job through training & teamwork.
The week before, the department quickly doused a barn fire in Southborough. The details emphasize that the department’s staffing level played a critical role:
Crews made quick work of a small fire this morning in an old barn on Cordaville Rd. Two big things were in our favor that kept the fire from spreading throughout the very dry barn. 1) The fire was called in quickly. 2) It occurred during shift change, which enabled a response of members from two shifts with all needed apparatus and effect all firefighting operations immediately/effectively. It also allowed for adequate station coverage by off-duty members, maintaining protection of the community. Staffing is vitally important to our success and safety of the community.
I already shared the department’s explanation of their March 25th investigation into white powder in a resident’s mail. A few days before that, the SFD responded to a major crash that thankfully resulted in only minor injuries:
Around 0200 on Friday morning Group 1 was dispatched to the Mass Turnpike East bound at mile marker 109 for a MVA involving a truck. The pictures below are what crews found on scene. Squad 24, Engine 23 and Ambulance 28 responded. Two patients from the car received treatment and transport to the ER for minor injuries. Crews remained on scene until just before 0400 while the tow crews separated the vehicles and cleaned up fluids.
The department was proud that month to boast of good deeds by SFD volunteers.
They shared news of annual work by one of theirs who traveled to Haiti:
Strong work to FF/Paramedic Scott Navaroli. Scott is very talented and always finds time out of his busy schedule to help others. This week he is in Grand Goâve, Haiti helping rebuild this country that desperately needs our help. This is an annual trip for him and he always looks forward to it. Keep up the good work Scott!
And group 3 helped give out medals at a Special Olympics basketball event:
Group 3 had the honor of attending and awarding medals at the Massachusetts Special Olympics, Unified Junior’s Program held at St. Mark’s School today. It was a privilege to be invited to such a great event. Congratulations to all the Olympians, each of you are our heros.
In early March, the department posted of another accidents, plus their response to a mess at a commercial building in town:
Group 1 on shift today with another busy day, picture 1 damage from a broken sprinkler pipe in a commercial building. Picture 2 is an MVA on Rt 85 at Rockpoint with 1 patient transported with minor injuries to Umass ER.
And in late February:
Busy day for SFD crews, and it’s not even 2p yet. This is just one of many calls. The one occupant was transported to UMass University Campus Worcester with non-life threatening injuries
Along the way, the SFD posted information on staff training. That included a special course one of their members took part in:
Hats off to FF/P Justin McCallum who completed an intensive 3-day active shooter/hostile event course this week in Warren, MA. The objective of this course is to jointly train Fire, EMS & Law Enforcement on the concepts of coordinated multi-discipline response to active threat events, such as mass-shootings. The course was attended by Fire, EMS & Law Enforcement personnel from several Worcester County communities. This is the first offering of this nationally recognized FEMA course in Massachusetts. It was presented by the University of Louisiana in coordination with EOPSS, MEMA and the Central Region Homeland Security Advisory Council. FF/P McCallum will be instrumental in training other department members and helping to develop emergency response plans in coordination with other town departments and surrounding communities
There were also examples of more standard training done by groups.
On March 19th:
Group 3 combined truck checks and air management training today by performing their daily checks in full PPE and breathing apparatus. Such training greatly improves our proficiency of operating with limited dexterity and visibility.
And on March 23rd:
Group 1 on duty today conducting air management drills that consist of basic skills and physical fitness. The drill starts with all members dawning their protective firefighting gear and assembly of their breathing air packs while wearing a hood over their head to simulate blackout conditions. The next step is to put on the air pack and begin breathing air from the tank. The group then began the stair climb with each member completing 10 sets of up and down the stairs. After completion of the stair climb, each member walked 1 lap around the entire property. Total steps taken during the evolution were approximately 1950 and a distance of .87 miles.
On a dark note, the SFD shared its worries about cancer risks posed by the job:
It seems like everywhere we turn we are exposed to cancer causing chemicals. [linked story “Lawmakers call for immediate action on fire gear after Boston 25 report”]
Another concern shared through this morning’s congratulations post to a colleague was the impact that suicides have on firefighters and EMTs:
Congratulations to Southborough PD Sgt. Sean McCarthy on completing the 2019 Boston Marathon supporting the cause of raising awareness and improving support/prevention of suicides among police officers. Suicide is the leading cause death among police officers (as well as Firefighters and EMTs). Strong work Sean, we’re wicked proud of you.
