Police/Fire

Volunteers, Community Come Together to Welcome Attendees of Firefighter’s Funeral

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It takes a village, or in this case a town, to put on a funeral for a fallen hero. Work began in the days before the funeral for fallen Watertown Firefighter Joseph Toscano on Wednesday morning. And volunteers, organizations and business owners all chipped in to welcome thousands of firefighters from around the Bay State and across the country to Watertown. They provided food, shelter and – maybe most importantly – restrooms.

Just after dawn on Wednesday, a few canteens set up to provide breakfast, coffee, and later lunch for the many “jakes” who descended on Watertown Square. The Boston Sparks Association, a volunteer group operating out of the Boston Fire Museum, setup about 6:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Fallen Firefighter

Toscano Overcame Challenges as a Youth to Become a Fine Firefighter, Husband

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Thousands of firefighters are expected to pour into Watertown Wednesday to bid farewell Firefighter Joseph Toscano, who died in the line of duty and whose funeral will be held Wednesday. But a couple knew the fallen hero better than anyone. 

When Watertown Deputy Fire Chief Bob Quinn needed to appoint an aide 12 and a half years ago an he knew the Toscano was the perfect man for the job. “He was my first choice,” Quinn said. “I need someone that I could rely on, someone that I could trust, someone who could make decisions to help me make good decisions.”

Quinn said Toscano’s death is a “devastating” blow for the department. “He was a fantastic person,” Quinn said.

Fire Contract

Watertown Firefighters Sign 3 Year Contract with Raises Each Year

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Watertown’s firefighters have a new contract, an agreement that was made with the town without the animosity that was seen before the last contract was settled. The deal came the night before the tragic loss of Firefighter Joseph Toscano. Thursday night, Watertown Firefighters Local 1347 and town officials signed the 3-year contract which gives firefighters a raise of 2.25 percent in Fiscal Year 2017 (which started July 1, 2016), 2 percent in FY 2018 and 2 percent in FY 2019. The last Watertown Firefighters contract took more than six years to settle. It went to arbitration when the two sides could not come to an agreement, then town officials and the Council rejected the arbitration agreement in December 2014.

Ed Walsh

Main Street Will be Shut Down for Fallen Watertown Firefighter’s Funeral

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A firefighter’s funeral is an amazing spectacle as thousands of fellow firefighters come to show their last respects. To accommodate all those coming to bid farewell to Watertown Firefighter Joseph Toscano, Main Street in Watertown will be shut down much of Wednesday. The Watertown Police Department announced the closure on Sunday afternoon. “Please be advised that Main St from Waverley Ave to Watertown Square will be closed this Wednesday at 8:30 am for the funeral service of FF Toscano. Please seek alternate routes and plan accordingly,” the Facebook announcement said.

Fallen Firefighter

Funeral for Fallen Watertown Firefighter to be Held Wednesday at St. Pat’s

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Watertown Firefighter Joseph Toscano’s life will be celebrated at a Funeral Mass at a church just blocks from the fire station where he spent most of his career. 

Toscano’s funeral will be held on Wednesday, March 22 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Church, 212 Main St. in Watertown. Relatives and friends are invited to attend visiting hours on Tuesday, March 21, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 211 N. Main St.

Fallen Firefighter

Firefighters Salute Fallen Watertown Firefighter as He Begins His Final Trip Home

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Firefighters lined up to salute fallen Watertown Firefighter Joseph Toscano as he began his final farewell Saturday morning. Shortly after 8:30 a.m. Saturday, the body of the 21-year-veteran of the Watertown Fire Department was transferred from Mount Auburn Hospital – where he was taken after collapsing at a fire on Merrifield Avenue and pronounced dead – to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Boston where the cause of death will be determined. https://twitter.com/BostonDotCom/status/843114457651990528

A procession of fire trucks escorted Toscano and waiting at the Medical Examiner’s office was a group of firefighters, including some of his fellow Watertown firefighters. They walked along side the hearse on Albany Street in Boston and escorted him into the building. https://twitter.com/bostonherald/status/843128591957331968

A fund has been created to benefit Toscano’s wife and five children.

Fallen Firefighter

Fund Created to Help the Family of Fallen Fire Fighter Joe Toscano

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A fund has been created to benefit the family of Watertown firefighter Joseph Toscano, who lost his life in the line of duty on March 17, 2017. The Watertown Fire Department and Watertown Firefighters Local 1347 IAFF announced the creation of the fund to help the family of the fallen firefighter. The Randolph resident leaves behind a wife and five children ages 12-19. Donations may be sent to:

Watertown Firefighters Relief Association
Toscano Fund
99 Main St. Watertown, MA 02472