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.

Police/Fire

Fire Department Douses Small Fire in Watertown

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The Watertown Fire Department put out a fire that started in mulch beds at a condominium building on Coolidge Avenue Sunday afternoon. The fire occurred outside the Charles River Towers at 151 Coolidge Avenue at about 4:45 p.m. Sunday, according to reports. The fire did not damage the building.

Police/Fire

Fallen Boston Firefighter Has Family on Watertown Fire Department

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Lt. Edward J. Walsh, one of the Boston firefighters killed in the 9-alarm blaze in the Back Bay on Wednesday, has family on the Watertown Fire Department.  

Walsh, 43, of West Roxbury, and firefighter Michael Kennedy, 33 of Hyde Park, died in the basement of a brownstone on Beacon Street when flames flared up in a backdraft, Boston Fire officials said Wednesday night. Thirteen other firefighters were injured in the fire. The fire touched Watertown, as Walsh has family members currently and formerly on the Watertown Fire Department. His father was a lieutenant on the WFD as was his late uncle Bill, according to the Boston Fire Department.

Around Town

Watertown Firefighters Now Armed with Antidote for Heroin Overdoses

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Deaths from overdoses caused by heroin and other opioids has risen in Massachusetts, and has even impacted Watertown. The Watertown Fire Department is one of the first departments to have access to an antidote for overdoses. Starting on Feb. 20, all Watertown fire vehicles began carrying Nalaxone, a drug that can be given as an antidote to a person suspected of suffering from an opioid overdose, said Watertown Fire Chief Mario Orangio. Opioids also include prescription painkiller medicines codeine and oxycontin.