Police/Fire

Memorial for Fallen Watertown Firefighter to be Unveiled A Year After the Tragedy

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In March, a year after Watertown Firefighter Joseph Toscano lost his life fighting a fire, a memorial in his name will be unveiled near the East End home where the tragedy occurred. 

At Tuesday night’s Town Council meeting, East End Town Councilor Angeline Kounelis announced the date of the dedication. “Eleven months ago a tragedy occurred in our community,” Kounelis said. “There was a loss of life. Firefighter Joseph Toscano answered his final alarm on Merrifield Avenue.” On March 17, 2018 at 10 a.m., a plaque will be unveiled at the corner of Merrifield Avenue and Bigelow Avenue to memorialize Toscano.

Police/Fire

Watertown’s Fallen Firefighter Added to Mass. Fallen Firefighter Memorial

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Yesterday afternoon Firefighter Joseph Toscano, who died in the line of duty in March, was added to the Ring of Honor at the Massachusetts Fallen Firefighter Memorial located behind the State House. #massachusetts #fire #lodd @massgovernor @the_pffm
A post shared by Capt. Ryan Nicholson (@watertownfire) on Sep 9, 2017 at 7:24am PDT

Watertown Firefighter Joseph Toscano’s name was added to the memorial to firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty. Toscano died while fighting a fire on Merrifield Avenue on March 17, 2017. On Friday, his colleagues attended the ceremony at the Massachusetts Fallen Firefighters Memorial outside the State House in Boston. Gov. Charlie Baker spoke at the 1oth annual ceremony.

Government

Memorial for Watertown’s Fallen Firefighter Approved by Town Council

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The corner near house where Firefighter Joseph Toscano lost his life during a fire will be named in his memory after the Town Council voted to approve the memorial. 

Town Council President Mark Sideris read the resolution to create the Joseph A. Toscano Memorial in East Watertown last week. “Be it resolved that the Town Council gratefully acknowledges the ultimate sacrifice made by Firefighter Joseph A. Toscano and hereby dedicates a memorial at the corner of Merrifield Avenue and Bigelow Avenue in honor of Firefighter Joseph A, Toscano,” Sideris read. The Council resolution directed Town Manager Michael Driscoll to work with Town Councilor Angeline Kounelis to design an appropriate sign and memorial. The fire that took Toscano’s life occurred in Kounelis’ district in the East End. She added that she believes it is important to have a memorial for a hero like Toscano.

Fallen Firefighter

Town Exploring Creating Memorial to Fallen Watertown Firefighter

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The corner of the street where the fire that took the life of Watertown Firefighter Joe Toscano occurred could be named in his honor, as Watertown firefighters seek to create a memorial for their fallen comrade. Tuesday night, the proposal was brought forward officially by East End Town Councilor Angeline Kounelis, who was supported by members of the Watertown Fire Department. “This past March 17 a tragedy occurred in our community, something I hope we never go through again,” Kounelis said. “It is a morning that many of us will never forget.” She proposed that the Town honor Toscano for making the “ultimate sacrifice” of giving his life in the line of duty by creating a permanent memorial.

Fallen Firefighter

Town Covers Cost of Fallen Firefighter, Will Cover Future Fire, Police Funerals

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The Town of Watertown paid for the cost of the funeral and burial of fallen Firefighter Joseph Toscano, and the Town Council approved a policy that will do the same for future tragedies involving Watertown firefighters or police officers. The state has an optional law that communities can adopt that allow them to pay for the funeral and burial expenses of a firefighter or police officer killed in the line of duty up to $15,000. Watertown had not adopted the law, but the Town Council unanimously approved it at its May 9 meeting. At their previous meeting on April 25, the Council approved a transfer of $9,896 from the Town Council Reserve to the Funeral Expenses Account to cover the funeral and burial costs of Joseph Toscano, who was honored by a funeral procession through Watertown Square and services at St. Patrick’s Church.

Around Town

Newton Firefighters Make Hefty Donation to Family of Fallen Watertown Firefighter

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The Watertown Fire Department received a visit from their friends in the Newton Fire Department this week, who came bearing a generous gift for the family of Joseph Toscano. The Newton contingent delivered a check for $10,000 for the family of Toscano, who lost his life in the line of duty on March 17. Newton Firefighter Union President Tom Lopez presented the donation along with firefighters Brian Albano and Brian McNamara and Deputy Chief Mike McNamara, according to Watertown Deputy Fire Chief Tom McManus. They gave the check to members of Group 2, the group on which Toscano worked for most of his 20+ year career. Watertown Deputy Chief Bob Quinn, Union President Rob Mannix and members of Group 2 posed with the Newton Firefighters for a photo to commemorate the visit.

Government

Town Council, Town Officials Salute Watertown’s Fallen Firefighter

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This week, the Town Council and Town officials honored fallen Watertown Firefighter Joseph Toscano with a moment of silence at the end of Tuesday’s Town Council, and shared their condolences. Town Council Mark Sideris spoke on behalf of the Town Council. “We express our condolences to his wife, his family and his firefighter family in Watertown and across the state,” Sideris said. Sideris also thanked Watertown Fire Chief Mario Orangio and the Fire Department for arranging the funeral for Toscano on March 22. “It was a day that we can say we were all proud to be from Watertown,” Sideris said.

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.