Between March 17 and March 30, the Harvard Fire Department responded to three car crashes, three automatic alarms, three officer calls, and two calls for mutual aid. Lt. Andrew Perry conducted two oil burner/oil tank, two liquid propane tank, one dumpster, and nine smoke/CO alarm inspections.
Saturday, March 18
Lt. Andrew Perry and firefighter Justin Warren trained three recruits from 9 a.m. until noon. The training covered ladders and familiarization with the engines and the tools on them.
Monday, March 19
Nine firefighters responded to an automatic alarm at the public library at 5:42 p.m. The firefighters checked the building and found no abnormal readings. They also identified the detector that had gone off. They reset the alarm. A second automatic alarm from the library came in at 6:09 p.m. Firefighters returned and again checked the building. They removed, cleaned, and reinstalled the sounding detector before resetting the alarm system. No further service was required.
Tuesday, March 20
At 2:05 p.m. Chief Rick Sicard and Lt. Perry responded to a medical emergency call at an Old Littleton Road residence. One of the workers renovating the home was injured when part of the chimney collapsed on him. His co-workers had freed him before the ambulance and firefighters arrived. The ambulance took the worker to the hospital, with ALS on board.
Wednesday, March 21
Twenty firefighters participated in the Wednesday night training. The firefighters were back on Ann Lees Road for a quick refresher of their ice rescue training. They returned to the station and put new hose on Engine 2.
Thursday, March 22
Nine firefighters responded to a rolled-over vehicle at Ayer and South Shaker roads at 7:33 a.m. The Fire Department helped the ambulance crew get the passengers out of the vehicle and waited for the car to be towed. The ambulance took two people to the hospital.
Friday, March 23
At 5:33 p.m. five Harvard firefighters and Engine 4 responded to an explosion and fire at AVS Inc. in Ayer. The Harvard crew was assigned to RIC (rapid intervention crew). RIC firefighters are on standby, in full gear, outside a structure, ready to enter and assist another firefighter. Fortunately they were not needed. The Harvard crew was back at the station at 8:15 p.m. Three other firefighters covered the Harvard station. At 9:33 p.m. seven firefighters were dispatched to provide mutual aid to a residential fire in Bolton. The crew was canceled en route.
Saturday, March 24
A two-car crash brought five firefighters to Route 2 eastbound at 9:13 p.m. The Harvard ambulance took one patient to Nashoba Valley Medical Center; one occupant refused medical transport. The firefighters used absorbent to clean up spilled fluids and waited until both cars were towed.
Monday, March 26
A passerby called the Fire Department at 11:44 a.m. to report seeing black smoke coming out of the chimney at an Ayer Road home. Chief Sicard and Lt. Perry went to the home and found that the resident had just lit a fire in the fireplace. No additional help was needed.
Tuesday, March 27
Lt. Perry and firefighter Ian Sears attended an all-day training, “Homemade explosives and post-blast training for the first responder,” at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy in Stow.
Wednesday, March 28
An automatic alarm brought six firefighters to a Bolton Road business at 12:20 p.m. Chief Sicard was the first to arrive. The alarm was set off accidentally by workers. The chief reset the alarm.
Thursday, March 29
Five firefighters went to a two-car accident on Route 2 eastbound between Jackson and Ayer roads at 8:39 a.m. The Harvard and Devens ambulances each took one patient to the hospital. At 10:30 a.m. Lt. Perry assisted a South Shaker Road resident with the regulator on an oxygen tank.
Friday, March 30
Chief Sicard, Harvard’s emergency manager, attended a meeting from 9 a.m. to noon on the Wachusett Reservoir Dam Emergency Action Plan. The reservoir feeds the Nashua River. At 12:08 p.m. the department received a report of a fire behind the fire station. It was a permitted fire
Fire Department Factoid
The “Move Over Law” requires drivers approaching a stationary emergency or maintenance vehicle with flashing lights to move to the next adjacent lane if it is safe to do so, and, barring that, to reduce their speed.
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