Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/tag/watertown-fire-department/page/13/)
Watertown Firefighters battled a blaze at a home on Flint Road on Christmas Eve. A fire alarm struck at 4:24 p.m. on Dec. 24 for a fire at 25 Flint Road. The fire started in a chimney on the first floor of the 2.5 story multi-family home, according to Watertown Fire Capt. Ryan Nicholson. “Upon arrival crews found that a fire had spread from the fireplace on the first floor,” Nicholson said.
A table full of toys at the Watertown Police Station, just a fraction of the gifts that were distributed by Watertown Police officers and Firefighters to families in need in town on Thursday. The toy drive was organized by the Sonny Whooley Foundation. Thursday morning, the Community Room at the Watertown Police Station turned into Santa’s Workshop, with toys for children of all ages piled up around the room. These gifts were delivered to families around Watertown, and beyond, who otherwise may not have a very Merry Christmas. All morning, Watertown Police officers, Watertown Firefighters, and others filled large plastic bags with gifts, and delivered them to more than 90 families around town.
The Watertown Fire Department welcomed Cory Donahue as the newest member of the Department.
Town Manager Michael J. Driscoll appointed Donahue as a firefighter for the Town of Watertown, effective Sunday, November 4, 2018. The Watertown Fire Department welcomed him on its Instagram page: Please join us in congratulating Firefighter Cory Donahue as he begins his career with the Watertown Fire Department.
Watertown Firefighters visited every elementary school this year and also installed fire alarms for seniors around town with the help of the fire safety grants. In January the Watertown Fire Department received $5,407 in Student Awareness of Fire Education (S.A.F.E.) grant and $2,813 in Senior SAFE grant. “We applied for the grant and got it in 2017,” said Capt. Ryan Nicholson, the WFD’s S.A.F.E and Senior SAFE Program Coordinator. “It was the first time we got it in about 10 years.” In the Spring, S.A.F.E. Educators Firefighter Jeffrey Pugliese Jr. and Firefighter Shane Gleason visited every third grade classroom at each of Watertown’s three elementary schools.
The U.S. Postal Service honored Watertown’s police officers and firefighters Thursday with the unveiling of a stamp recognizing first responders.
The Post Office is presenting local departments with a plaque featuring a larger image of the limited edition stamps. Linda Beattie, manager of Watertown’s three post offices, presented the plaques to Watertown Police Chief Michael Lawn, Watertown Deputy Fire Chief Dan Tardif, and Watertown Firefighter and EMT David Meagher during a ceremony at the Watertown Police Station. “For the work they did with the Boston Marathon bombers, we wanted to recognize them for their heroic actions,” Beattie said. “It has a special meaning for this town.” The stamp features three figures: a red firefighter holding an ax, a white paramedic holding a medical bag, and a blue police office shining a flashlight into the dark background partially filled with smoke.
A late night fire at a Watertown auto body shop damaged nine vehicles to varying degrees.
On Oct. 3, 2018, the Watertown Fire Department responded to a fire at Perfection Auto Body at 2:29 a.m.
Firefighters gained access to the business on Pleasant Street and found several vehicles ablaze and they put out the flames. The fire started in one vehicle and spread to eight others, according to a report from the Watertown Fire Department. It totaled or damaged nine vehicles, according to Watertown Police Sgt. Thomas Grady.
The week of Oct. 7 to 13 is National Fire Prevention Week, and the Watertown Fire Department has a couple of events plan, including a partnership with Dominos and and open house at the Fire Headquarters. The Watertown Fire Department provided the following information:
Each year for a week in October we try to bring awareness to fire risks and educate the public on how they can make their homes safer. This year’s Fire Prevention Week focus, which runs from Oct. 7 through Oct.
Watertown’s new Fire Chief said he will continue the tradition of his predecessors and work to make the department progressive and well trained while ensuring members of the department are safe and healthy. He also remembered a pair of recently lost members of the Watertown Fire Department. Robert “Bob” Quinn officially became the Chief of the Watertown Fire Department Thursday afternoon, after being sworn in in front of a packed room in the Watertown Library’s Watertown Savings Bank Room. After being introduced by Town Manager Michael Driscoll and taking the oath from Town Clerk John Flynn, Quinn said: “It is certainly a very proud moment in my career becoming chief of this great Department. I look forward to serving the citizens of Watertown in this role.”