Cancer

Watertown Fire Department Making Efforts to Avoid Risks of Cancer

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The past 18 months have been a difficult for the Watertown Fire Department, with two deaths within the department, and Fire Chief Bob Quinn wants to take steps to prevent further tragedies. In March 2017, Firefighter Joe Toscano collapsed and died from heart failure while fighting a fire. Then in October, Fire Chief Mario Orangio died after months battling pancreatic cancer, which is one of the types of cancer which firefighters are more at risk of getting. This year, Quinn has put an emphasis on the health and safety of his firefighters. This includes strength, conditioning, nutrition, stress managment, as well as reducing the risk of on-the-job cancer.

Fallen Firefighter

Watertown Firefighters Salute a Fallen Colleague, Lost 59 Years Ago

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Fifty-nine years ago, the Watertown Fire Department lost one of its own during an attic fire at the then-East Junior High School. On Friday afternoon, Watertown Firefighters paid tribute to Charles Morrill. 

More than a dozen members of the WFD lined up for a moment of silence on the field facing the former junior high on Mt. Auburn Street, which is now the Brigham House. They ended the brief ceremony by saluting their fallen colleague. Provisional Fire Chief Bob Quinn said the Fire Department wanted to remember its members lost while serving the Town of Watertown.

Government

Town Council Approves Funding to Renovate North Fire Station

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The Town Council approved the funds needed to make some major renovations to the North Fire Station to modernize it for the firefighters who live and work there. 

The facility on Orchard Street, also known as Station 3, has five firefighters assigned to it, and runs the Watertown Fire Department’s Engine 1 an Rescue 1 ambulance. The Council approved $1.242 million for the renovations, which will replace or modernize the systems in the building, said Provisional Fire Chief Bob Quinn. “These are long overdue improvements to Station 3,” Quinn said. While there have been some work to the roof within the last couple years and to the floor in 1998, but Quinn said some of the systems are very old. “We will get rid of the old steam radiators and replace them with new heated fin tubes,” Quinn said.

Police/Fire

Watertown Fire Department Promotes Two Members, Welcomes Two Firefighters

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Two Watertown Firefighters took steps up the ladder with the Fire Department, while two more started their careers with the Department. The Watertown Fire Department promoted a captain and a lieutenant and swore in two new firefighters during a ceremony at the Watertown Free Public Library on Friday. William Maietta was promoted to Fire Captain. Ryan Gleason was promoted to Fire Lieutenant. He has been on the Department for 12 years.

Around Town

Memorial to Fallen Firefighter Dedicated Near Where He Gave His Life Serving Watertown

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The corner of Merrifield and Bigelow avenues in East Watertown was the site of a tragedy a year ago, but on Saturday it was a place where family, friends and fellow firefighters came to celebrate the memory of Joseph Toscano. A memorial was unveiled at that corner to honor Toscano, who died in the line of duty while fighting a fire at a home on Merrifield Avenue on March 17, 2017. Current and retired members of the Watertown Fire Department came out for the ceremony in large numbers and were joined by honor guards from Watertown Fire, Watertown Police and members of other fire departments. Two ladder trucks formed an arch over Bigelow Avenue and a podium was set up for the ceremony. Joe’s widow, Maureen, said that all this would have been strange for Toscano.

Police/Fire

Dedication of Fallen Watertown Firefighter’s Memorial Taking Place on March 17

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A year after the Watertown Firefighter Joseph Toscano lost his life during a fire the Town and the Watertown Fire Department will honor him with the dedication of a memorial in East Watertown. The public is invited to the ceremony for Toscano, which will take place on Saturday, March 17, 2018, exactly a year after his “last alarm.” A plaque will be unveiled at the corner of Merrifield and Bigelow Avenues. A reception will be held afterward at the Metaxas/Hellenic Community Center, 25 Bigelow Ave., Watertown. The plaque and the ceremony has been sponsored by a gift from Watertown Savings Bank.

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

Fire Department Receives Grant to Teach Fire Safety in Watertown Schools

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The Watertown Fire Department is excited to announce our receiving S.A.F.E. and Senior SAFE Grant funds from the state for the second year in a row. We have received $5,407 for S.A.F.E (Student Awareness of Fire Education) and $2,813 for Senior SAFE. Over the past year we were able to visit each third grade classroom in the district to educate the students on several topics including smoke and CO alarms, home escape planning, crawling low under smoke, and match and lighter safety. With the receipt of this year’s funds we hope to continue our efforts with the third grade and work on expanding to other grade levels. The funds will also help the fire department train more firefighters as Public Fire and Life Safety Educators through the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy.