Charity

Watertown Firefighters Raising Money to Support Breast Cancer Patients

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Through the month of October, the Watertown Fire Department will add a touch of pink to their blue uniforms for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and you can get one of their T-shirts, too, and support patients undergoing treatment for the disease. Firefighter Bob Power is organizing the effort this year, and has seen what going through treatment for breast cancer can be like. “My wife was diagnosed two-and-a-half years ago,” Power said. “She has been cancer free for about two years.” The money raised by the WFD is given to those undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

Police/Fire

Six Sent to Hospital With CO Poisoning at Watertown Condo Building

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Six residents of a Watertown condominium building went to hospital Wednesday night because of a high levels of carbon monoxide in the building. 

Residents of 10 Riverside St. we’re evacuated after high levels of CO were detected about 8 p.m.

The call came into the Watertown Fire Department as a report of a smell of gases. When the firefighters arrived they quickly realized what was happening, said Deputy Fire Chief Rob Iannetta. “We went in with our CO meters and gas meters and immediately got an elevated reading,” Iannetta said. The cause was a faulty oil burner, Iannetta said.

Police/Fire

Watertown Firefighters Douse 2 Alarm Fire at Company on Walnut Street

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A fire ignited around dawn at an empty lab on Walnut Street Monday morning, and Watertown Firefighters knocked down the two-alarm blaze in a potentially hazardous situation. Doble Engineering was closed when the Fire Department received a report of an alarm at about 6:30 a.m. Monday, said Deputy Fire Chief Rob Iannetta. “It came in as a regular smoke detector activation, like we have done 100 times before,” Iannetta said. “When we go there, the whole first floor was filled with smoke. Soon after the sprinkler system activated.”

Police/Fire

Watertown Firefighter Marks Contract Signing With Unusual Donation

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A Watertown firefighter decided to celebrate the signing of the Watertown Fire contract after more than 6.5 years without one by making a special donation to help a cancer patient. Fellow firefighters noticed that Guillermo “Willie” Gaitan, a 30-year veteran of the WFD, had hair long enough for a ponytail. Willie half-jokingly said that he was not going to cut it until they had a contract, according to another firefighter. That was almost 3 years ago. Last week, upon the yes vote on the contract for Watertown Firefighters Local 1347, Firefighter Gaitan headed to the barber shop. When asked about his decision Willie replied, “I saw an opportunity to help others, and that’s what we do.”

His hair created a 15-inch braid, which has been donated to Pantene Beautiful Lengths, which partners with the American Cancer Society to donate ponytails and funds the crafting of wigs for cancer patients.

Breast Cancer

Watertown Firefighters Wearing Pink to Support Breast Cancer Awareness

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You might notice Watertown firefighters clad in Pepto Bismol colored T-shirts, instead of their normal dar blue ones. They are going pink for Breast Cancer Awareness month. The tradition started several years ago when now-retired firefighter Tom Thibault approached Fire Chief Mario Orangio about doing something to raise awareness after Thibault’s wife was diagnosed with the disease. “My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, so I said, sure,” Orangio said. “The guys like it.

Police/Fire

Find Out Why a Helicopter was Buzzing Around Watertown Friday

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A Massachusetts State Police helicopter joined the search for someone reportedly in the Charles River Friday night. “We got a report that someone fell or jumped into the river,” said Watertown Deputy Fire Chief Dan Tardiff. “We searched the river with State Police and with units on the shore. We didn’t find anyone.” Authorities got a report of someone who fell or jumped into the river after 7 p.m. Friday.

Government

Grant Will Provide Watertown Firefighters With New Set of Protective Gear

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Watertown firefighters will have a new set protective clothing to fight fires thanks to a federal grant awarded recently. Last week, Watertown Fire Chief Mario Orangio received notification that the Watertown Fire Department will receive $186,750, or 90 percent of the cost of purchasing a new set of “turnout gear,” through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG). “I am pleased to report that our application to the AFG equipment program has been awarded,” Orangio said. “This award allows us to purchase 83 new sets of gear replacing some as old as 10 years.” The town will have to provide the remaining 10 percent of the cost, $20,750, Orangio said.

Government

Fire Chief: Adding Paramedics to Department is a Quality of Life Issue

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The move to have the Watertown Fire Department handle paramedic service in-house is a matter of quality of life, said Fire Chief Mario Orangio. The Fire Department will hire four paramedics with a grant from FEMA, and some current members of the Fire Department will train to in advanced life support so the Watertown can provide its own paramedic service (read more here). Right now the town uses Armstrong Ambulance, which is based in Waltham. When Watertown runs its own ambulances the response time will be cut down. “The best thing is it will save time,” Orangio said.