Author: jgprrob

As the holiday season begins, it is important to remember cooking safety tips to ensure your meals go smoothly and successfully. 

The National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) reported that Thanksgiving is the peak day of the year for home cooking fires, with over three times the daily average of cooking fires. Christmas Day and Christmas Eve follow closely behind, with both days having nearly twice the daily average.

According to NFPA, unattended cooking was the leading contributing factor in cooking fires and fire deaths. Cooking also causes half of reported home fires, almost two of every five home fire injuries, and is a leading cause of home fire deaths.

To prevent cooking fires, never leave anything cooking on the stovetop unsupervised, and stay home with meals that require an oven. Remember to test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to ensure they are working prior to the holiday, and keep children away from the stove, hot foods, knives, kitchen appliances, and cords.
Click here for more of the NFPA’s holiday cooking tips.

Today, on National First Responders Day, we pause to honor the bravery and sacrifice of police officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and 911 dispatchers.

These dedicated professionals put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities and respond in times of crisis. We are grateful for their service and commitment.

We are proud to stand alongside our fellow first responders and grateful for the trust and collaboration that allows us to serve our community together.

Fire Chief Stephen B. Kavanagh and Police Chief Kevin DiNapoli report that the Wenham Police and Fire Departments responded Monday to a rollover crash that damaged a utility pole.

On Monday, July 7, at approximately 4 p.m., Wenham Police and Fire were called to Larch Row, between Main Street and Four Corners, for a report of a crash.

First responders arrived at the scene to discover a single-vehicle crash involving a commercial tree truck that struck a utility pole and rolled onto its side. There were no reported injuries.

The crash destroyed a utility pole at the scene, and forced first responders to close Larch Row between Main Street and Four Corners while repairs are made to the utility pole. The road is expected to remain closed for several hours.

The Wenham Fire Department also worked to contain a small spill of oil from a transformer and liquid fertilizer from the tree truck. An environmental group is also responding to the scene to clean up those spills.

The crash also caused a small power outage in the immediate area. National Grid is expected to restore power once the utility pole has been repaired.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Wenham Police Department.

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WENHAM – Chief Stephen B. Kavanagh reports that the Wenham Fire Department and mutual aid partners responded Wednesday to a serious injury crash on Route 128. 

On Wednesday, Feb. 19, at approximately 2:45 p.m., Wenham Police and Fire were called to Route 128 Northbound near the Beverly line for a report of a rollover crash.

Deputy Chief Jeffrey Baxter and Wenham Police were the first to arrive on scene, and they reported that the only occupant of the vehicle involved was trapped.

Recognizing that the Beverly Fire Department was nearby and could respond quickly, Deputy Baxter called for Beverly firefighters to respond with hydraulic extrication tools to assist the trapped occupant.

Beverly Fire Engine 5 and Ladder 1 responded to the scene and used hydraulic extrication tools to free the occupant. That individual was then taken by Beauport Ambulance Paramedics to Beverly Hospital. That individual’s condition is unknown at this time.

Massachusetts State Police responded to the scene and are investigating the crash. Also responding were Manchester-by-the-Sea Police and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. 

“I want to thank all of our mutual aid partners, including Wenham Police, Beverly Fire, Manchester-by-the-Sea Police, Massachusetts State Police and the Department of Transportation for their prompt and professional responses to this incident,” said Chief Kavanagh. “Our mutual aid support is always critical, especially when serious incidents like this occur.”

Any additional inquiries should be directed to the Massachusetts State Police.

WENHAM – Police Chief Kevin DiNapoli and Fire Chief Stephen Kavanagh report that the Wenham Police and Fire Departments responded Sunday afternoon to a motorcycle crash on Grapevine Road.

On Sunday, March 10, at approximately 3:50 p.m., the North Shore Regional 9-1-1 Center in Middleton received a report of a motorcycle crash in the area of 52 Grapevine Road in Wenham.

Wenham Police and Fire responded and found a single-vehicle motorcycle crash, with an adult male operator suffering from what appeared to be serious injuries.

The operator was transported by a medical helicopter to a regional trauma center.

The crash remains under investigation by the Wenham Police Department. 

WENHAM – Chief Stephen Kavanagh is pleased to announce that four Wenham firefighters graduated from the Massachusetts Fire Academy’s (MFA) Call/Volunteer Training Program. 

Firefighters Brennan Lucado, Jessa Hattabaugh, Brett Donovan, and Matt Dickman
were among the 32 graduates from 12 departments who graduated from the Academy’s Call/Volunteer Training Program Class 109 on Wednesday, March 6.  

“I would like to congratulate Firefighters Lucado, Hattabaugh, Donovan and Dickman on completing their training,” said Chief Kavanagh. “Their continued hard work and effort does not go unnoticed and I look forward to watching their careers grow with Wenham for years to come.”

Graduates of the program complete 240 hours of training, all on nights and weekends. To graduate, they must demonstrate proficiency in life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation, and fire attack techniques. Upon completion of the training, they have also met the standards of National Fire Protection Association 1001. 

During the 16-week training program, participants learn the basic skills they need to respond to emergencies, including lessons on fire behavior and suppression, public fire education, hazardous material incident mitigation, flammable liquids, stress management, and self-rescue techniques. The program involves classroom instruction, physical fitness training, firefighter skills training, and live firefighting practice.

Other graduates of Class 109 represent the fire departments of Boxford, Essex, Georgetown, Groveland, Hamilton, Lynnfield, Middleton, Nahant, Rowley, and Topsfield.