Between May 12 and May 25 the Harvard Fire Department responded to four officer calls, two car crashes, one illegal burn, a report of spilled antifreeze, one automatic alarm, one ringing smoke detector, a report of a grounded boat in the pond, and a mower fire. Lt. Andrew Perry inspected 11 smoke/CO detectors, two oil burner/oil tanks, three propane tanks, three dumpsters, and one residential sprinkler. He also conducted one building safety inspection and delivered three fire code violation notifications.
Sunday, May 12
Seventeen firefighters helped out at the 2018 Ken Harrod Memorial Road Race from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. The race, co-sponsored with the Minuteman Road Club, is in memory of firefighter Ken Harrod and is one of the major fundraisers for the Harvard Firefighters Association. At 7:40 a.m. Lt. Perry responded to a report of burning on Woodchuck Hill Road. The homeowner was burning brush in a barrel, which is not allowed after May 1. The homeowner was asked to extinguish the fire. At 1:02 p.m. the Lancaster Fire Department responded to a two-vehicle crash on Route 2 westbound. When the Lancaster crew arrived they found the crash was in Harvard and requested Harvard’s assistance. Chief Rick Sicard responded. He found that Lancaster had the accident under control and canceled the rest of the Harvard crew.
Tuesday, May 15
At 10:55 a.m. the police requested the Fire Department’s help with a commercial vehicle that had overheated and stopped on Ayer Road. It was leaking antifreeze. Lt. Perry handled the minor spill.
Wednesday, May 16
Lt. Perry was called to Still River Road at 8:15 a.m. for a “trouble alarm” call from a fire alarm system. Perry checked the building and found no sign of smoke or fire. He recommended that the owner change the batteries. Sixteen firefighters and three recruits attended Wednesday night training from 7 to 10:30 p.m. A resident allowed the firefighters to practice in a house slated to be torn down. The department practiced search and rescue, cutting holes in the roof, and creating “breaches” in walls to allow them to move between spaces.
Thursday, May 17
A ringing smoke detector called Lt. Perry to a Fairbank Street home at 3:06 p.m. Perry checked the home, found all secure, but located a faulty detector. The homeowner was told to replace the detector. Perry and firefighter Justin Warren tested and qualified a third firefighter to drive Engine 2.
Sunday, May 20
At 8:51 a.m. Lt. Bill Barton assisted an Oak Hill Road resident with a smoke detector that was sounding. Barton discovered the detector was expired and advised the homeowner to replace the unit.
Monday, May 21
At 5:52 p.m. the department received a report of a boat stuck on a rock on Bare Hill Pond. Seven firefighters assembled at the station; just as they were about to pull out, the police called to tell them the occupants had freed the boat and no longer needed assistance. At 6:53 p.m. three firefighters responded to a request for help with a smoke detector that would not stop sounding. The firefighters located an expired detector in the Oak Hill Road residence and helped the owner install a new detector.
Tuesday, May 22
At 11:20 a.m. Lt. Perry responded to a Mass. Ave. building for an automatic “trouble” alarm. Perry checked the building, found no signs of smoke or fire, and was able to silence the alarm. The occupant called the alarm company for service.
Thursday, May 24
Five firefighters responded to a multiple car crash on Route 2 eastbound, east of Ayer Road, at 8:10 a.m. The firefighters provided scene safety, parking the engine at the accident site to protect those involved in the accident and the first responders. Two vehicle occupants refused medical assistance from the Harvard ambulance crew. At 4:53 p.m. Sicard responded to a call from a Trail Ridge Way resident for a problem with a smoke detector. Sicard located the problematic detector, cleaned it, and replaced it. No further assistance was needed.
Friday, May 25
Chief Sicard and four firefighters responded to a lawn mower fire on Depot Road at 1:41 p.m. The fire was out when the crew arrived, but the firefighters wet down the mower and the surrounding area to ensure the fire was completely out.
Fire Department Factoid
Firefighter Duane Barber is retiring from the department on June 1. Duane joined the department in 1994 after he retired from the U.S. Army, where he served for more than 30 years and rose to the rank of colonel.
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