Between Dec. 10 and Jan. 5, the Harvard Fire Department responded to two structure fires in neighboring towns, two reports of propane smells in homes, eight car accidents, five fire officer calls, three reports of downed power lines, one elevator rescue, two automatic alarms, and one faulty detector. Lt. Andrew Perry conducted 20 oil burner/oil tank inspections, seven inspections of liquid propane installations, seven smoke-carbon monoxide alarm inspections, one fire safety inspection of a property that holds a liquor license, two fire alarm inspections, and one residential sprinkler inspection.
Dec. 10 to Dec. 20
The Fire Department responded to three car accidents, one medical incident on Route 2, one homeowner assist, and one faulty detector.
Thursday, Dec. 21
At 6:52 a.m. the Boxborough Fire Department requested mutual aid for a house fire. Nine firefighters responded in Engine 4 and the tanker, which brought additional water to the scene. While the tanker crew assisted with water supply, the other Harvard firefighters checked the second floor of the home for hot spots using thermal-imaging cameras. The Harvard firefighters returned to the station at 8:45 a.m. and were immediately called out to a car crash on Ayer Road.
Saturday, Dec. 23
Ten firefighters responded to a crash on Route 2 westbound mid-afternoon.
Five firefighters in Engine 2 and the Harvard ambulance went to the accident; Engine 4 with five other firefighters waited on the Ayer Road bridge in case they were needed. The firefighters provided scene safety while the ambulance crew evaluated the passengers. As the ice storm continued, the department received three reports between 3:13 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. of branches on wires at two locations on Stow Road and one on Warren Avenue. Seven firefighters responded. Stow Road remained open and the firefighters directed traffic until National Grid arrived and turned off the power; Warren Avenue was closed due to a live power line in the road. At 4:41 p.m. an automatic alarm sent two firefighters to Littleton Road. The homeowners said the alarm went off accidentally as they were cooking; the firefighters checked the house to be sure.
Monday, Dec. 25
Eight firefighters were called out at 5:25 a.m. to a crash on Route 2 west. The car had slid into the guardrail in the snow. The ambulance crew took one occupant to the hospital; the firefighters cleaned up coolant and remained on scene until a tow truck arrived. They were back at the station at 6:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 27
At 11:26 p.m. a police officer found a vehicle leaking gasoline on the side of Old Shirley Road and called the Fire Department. No occupant was present. The five firefighters used an absorbent to clean the scene in the bitter cold and waited for a tow truck.
Thursday, Dec. 28
Lt. Perry responded to a request for assistance from a South Shaker Road homeowner at 1 p.m. Once there, he checked the carbon monoxide-smoke detectors and found they were all out of date. He provided the resident with information on how to replace the detectors. At 2 p.m. Perry and Lt. Bill Barton responded to an officer call on Stow Road; a carbon monoxide detector was going off. The owner was not home, but he called to say he was 15 minutes away. Perry checked the house with a handheld gas meter when the owner arrived; all readings were normal. At 2:45 p.m. an Oak Hill Road resident requested help with a chirping detector. Barton responded, replaced the battery in the detector, and collected two expired fire extinguishers.
Saturday, Dec. 30
A Blanchard Road family called 911 at 10:30 p.m. because they smelled propane in the home. Eight firefighters responded, four to the scene while four waited at the station. The family waited at a neighbor’s house on the very cold night. The firefighters could smell propane, but when they checked the house with the handheld gas meter they could not find the leak. They called the propane company, which sent out an emergency repairman who found and repaired a small leak. The firefighters returned to the station at 1:15 a.m.
Sunday, Dec. 31
Just after midnight an Old Littleton Road resident also reported smelling propane. The four firefighters waiting at the station responded. They discovered that the propane tank was empty; they metered the house and found all readings to be normal. At 3 a.m. the Blanchard Road resident called to report a continued smell of propane. Lt. Charlie Nigzus checked the house; all readings were normal, but the family chose to remain at their neighbor’s house. Nigzus shut off the propane and the residents called the propane company. At 11:37 a.m. an automatic alarm at an East Bare Hill Road home sent eight firefighters to the scene; the firefighters checked the home and determined that the alarm triggered accidentally.
Monday, Jan. 1
The Harvard Fire Department provided mutual aid to Littleton for a house fire in which a woman died. Eight firefighters responded to the 6:45 a.m. call; five went to Littleton while three waited at the station. The Harvard firefighters on scene were asked to clear the attic space of all items and to check for hot spots. When they were finished, in the bitter cold, firefighters on the scene warmed up in a state Mobile Rehab Unit, a vehicle that provides firefighters with shelter from the weather, rest, food, beverages, and medical evaluation as needed. They returned to Harvard at 10 a.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 2
At 11:24 a.m. seven firefighters responded to a call from the Bromfield School for a person stuck in an elevator. The firefighters tried to reset the elevator, but the reset did not work. They called the elevator company; someone arrived in 20 minutes and freed the occupant.
Wednesday, Jan 3
At their Wednesday night training, the firefighters practiced with their newly received Stokes basket, a litter used in search and rescue. The basket and its accompanying equipment were an anonymous donation to the department. The firefighters practiced strapping a patient in and carrying the litter.
Thursday, Jan 4
Firefighters took shifts to cover the station during winter storm Grayson. There were four or five firefighters at the station on standby between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Fire Department Factoid
The Harvard Fire Department responded to 277 calls in 2017. Chief Rick Sicard and Lt. Perry conducted inspections for one dumpster, five fire alarms, 34 oil burner and oil tanks, 45 liquid propane tanks or system installations, 93 carbon monoxide or smoke alarms, and 19 miscellaneous permit applications. Some applications require multiple inspection visits; the chief and lieutenant completed 285 site inspections in 2017.
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