Between Jan. 20 and Feb. 2, the Harvard Fire Department responded to five car accidents, two medical emergencies, two officer calls for smoke/carbon monoxide detectors, one automatic alarm, one reported smell of gas, and a call for mutual aid from Lancaster. Lt. Andrew Perry conducted eight oil burner/oil tank, five smoke/carbon monoxide alarm, three residential fire alarm, one residential sprinkler, and two safety inspections.
Sunday, Jan. 21
Six firefighters responded to a 5:59 p.m. automatic alarm at a Willow Road home. The homeowner thought burned food had triggered the alarm. The firefighters inspected the house and confirmed that all was OK. At 8:15 p.m. a Brown Road resident reported a problem with a smoke/carbon monoxide detector. Deputy Chief Charlie Nigzus checked the home with a handheld gas meter; no carbon monoxide was found. The deputy advised the homeowner to replace the detector.
Monday, Jan. 22
Four firefighters and Chief Rick Sicard responded to a medical emergency on Route 2 eastbound at 10:55 a.m. The call was canceled en route. At 7:05 p.m. a car rolled over on Tahanto Trail; seven firefighters responded. The ambulance took one person to the hospital and the firefighters waited for a tow truck to clear the scene. They returned to the station at 8:20 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 23
The Lancaster Fire Department called at 10:05 a.m. requesting that Harvard provide coverage there while Lancaster handled multiple car crashes. Four firefighters and the chief went to Lancaster with Engine 4; two firefighters waited at the Harvard station. Engine 4 was back in Harvard an hour later.
Wednesday, Jan. 24
At 5:42 p.m. the department was notified of an accident on Route 2 westbound. Seven firefighters responded; the call was canceled before the engine got on the highway. At 7 p.m. the department hosted a recruitment information session. Fourteen firefighters and eight guests attended. Anyone who couldn’t attend the meeting, but is interested in joining the Fire Department, should contact Lt. Perry at aperry@har vard.ma.us.
Thursday, Jan. 25
Five firefighters responded to a reported smell of gas in an Ayer Road home. The firefighters checked the house with the handheld gas meter, found all readings were normal, but discovered that a propane tank was empty. Propane tanks often give off a bit of gas when empty; the firefighters suspected that was what the owner smelled. They advised the homeowner to call the propane company.
Saturday, Jan. 27
A Littleton Road homeowner called at 9:50 p.m. requesting help with a smoke detector that was sounding. Deputy Chief Nigzus responded. There was no evidence of fire or smoke. The deputy found a faulty detector that was more than 10 years old. He advised the homeowner to replace the detectors.
Tuesday, Jan. 30
Five firefighters helped carry a patient from a Highland Avenue home to the ambulance at 1:21 a.m. At 6:45 p.m. six firefighters and the chief responded to a car crash on Depot Road. The ambulance took two patients to the hospital; the fire department stayed until the car was towed. At 11:33 p.m. five firefighters responded to a car accident on Mass Ave. The Harvard ambulance took one patient to the hospital; the firefighters cleaned up debris and used SpeediDry to collect fluids.
Thursday, Feb. 1
A single car crash on Bolton Road brought five firefighters out at 9:50 a.m. There were no injuries. The firefighters cleaned up leaking fluids and waited until the car was towed.
Fire Department Factoid
The department assigns a firefighter to each of its eight vehicles to serve as that vehicle’s engineer. Engineers are responsible for checking the vehicles and equipment and performing light maintenance. The engineers are:
- Wally Shaw (Engine 1)
- Justin Warren (Engine 2)
- Brian Perwak (Lead Engineer and Engine 3)
- Robert Curran (Engine 4)
- Ian Sears (Tower 1)
- Frank deBettencourt (tanker)
- Adam Hughes (forestry truck and boat)
[EasyDNNnewsToken:FireLog]
