Editor’s note: For years, readers have asked us to report on the activities of Harvard’s volunteer Fire Department. With this week’s paper, we’re fulfilling that request by adding a log of fire calls every other week to our regular police and ambulance log. We thank the Fire Department for making time to help us assemble this new report.
Between Feb. 14 and Feb. 28, the Harvard Fire Department responded to two auto fires, one automobile accident, one automatic alarm, and one request for an officer investigation.
Tuesday, Feb. 14
At 9 a.m. the Fire Department responded to a truck fire on Pinnacle Road (as reported in the Feb. 24 Police Log). Firefighters used a thermal-imaging camera to check that the snow the driver had shoveled onto the engine had extinguished the fire and that the truck could be safely towed. Six firefighters were there for an hour.
Wednesday, Feb. 15
Training, 7 to 11 p.m. Fourteen firefighters practiced search and rescue in the fire station by retrieving a 165-pound mannequin named Randy hidden in an unfamiliar, blacked-out setting.
Thursday, Feb. 16
At 8:30 a.m. five firefighters responded to a two-car accident in front of Dunkin’ Donuts on Ayer Road to help get those involved out of their vehicles (as reported in the Feb. 24 Police Log). They secured the scene by parking the engine to shield first responders from traffic. The firefighters worked there for 1½ hour.
Friday, Feb. 17
Nothing significant to report.
Saturday, Feb. 18
Eight firefighters, Engine 2, and Tower 1 responded to a late morning automatic house alarm on Old Littleton Road. Upon investigation they concluded that the wind was to blame; a strong downdraft had pushed wood smoke back down the chimney into the house, triggering the alarm. The homeowner ventilated the home and all was well.
Sunday, Feb. 19 and Monday, Feb. 20
Nothing significant to report.
Tuesday, Feb. 21
Engines 1 and 2 and seven firefighters helped the police with another truck fire on Mass. Ave. at Westward Orchards (as reported in the March 3 Police Log). When the fire was out, the responders applied hazmat pads to absorb and contain any contaminated runoff such as gasoline and oil mixed with water. It took 2½ hours to complete the cleanup.
Wednesday, Feb. 22 and Thursday, Feb. 23
Nothing significant to report.
Friday, Feb. 24
The department received a midnight request for help because a smoke detector was sounding an alarm. The officer checked the house with a gas meter (a handheld detector), but found all readings normal. Ultimately the smoke detector took the blame as it was defective, and the homeowner learned how to replace a smoke detector.
Saturday, Feb. 25 through Tuesday, Feb. 28
Nothing significant to report.
FIRE DEPARTMENT FACTOID
The Fire Department consists of Chief Rick Sicard; Deputy Chief Charles Nigzus; Lieutenants Tony Shaw, Gregory Harrod, Andrew Perry, and Bill Barton; and 17 firefighters. The chief is the only full-time employee. All other firefighters are volunteers who are Harvard residents and/or work in Harvard.
