Lt. Donald Philpot uses a thermal imaging camera to check for fire extension after a kitchen fire in an apartment at 50 Broadway
Kitchen Fire
4/29/09
At 0416, the Beverly Fire Department responded to a report of fire alarm activation at 50 Broadway. The report came from an alarm company hired to monitor the fire alarm system at the property. Upon arrival, Deputy Chief William Walsh found a fire in a fourth floor kitchen. Two building occupants, including a retired Beverly Firefighter, were using fire extinguishers and a pan of water to knock down the fire. Deputy Chief Walsh also used a fire extinguisher to keep the fire in check until an Engine company arrived on scene.
Engine 1 arrived and stretched 200 feet of hose to the fourth floor of the building but was able to completely extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher. All of the roughly 60 occupants were evacuated from the building until it could be determined that there was no fire extension.
Fire damage was confined to the area in the kitchen, but heavy smoke poured from the apartment while the fire was burning. Crews had to use a fan for nearly 30 minutes to remove smoke from the upper floors of the buildingwhich contains 45 apartments and roughly 60 occupants. The apartment where the fire took place was home to only one person. The resident of the affected apartment had to be removed from the building by the crew of Engine 5 and was transported to Beverly Hospital. He was conscious while being removed and did not appear to have life threatening injuries.
The five story building was built in 1930 but had operating smoke and Carbon monoxide detectors that operated alerting the occupants of the building to the presence of fire.
Deputy Chief William Walsh and Captain Jeff Sirois are investigating the cause of the fire. All personnel were clear of the scene by 0529.
Bathroom Fire at Centerville Elementary School
4/8/09
At 1409, the Beverly Fire Department responded for a report of a fire in the boys bathroom at the Centerville School on Hull St. Engine’s 1,3 and 5 responded with Deputy Chief William Petrosino, Chief Pierce and Lieutenant William Fiore. Upon arrival, crews found the school was evacuated and entered the building to find moderate smoke conditions in the hallway leading to one of the bathrooms. Inside the bathroom, Deputy Petrosino found a fire that had been controlled by a sprinkler head inside the room.
Crews ensured the fire was out and pulled down ceilings in order to make sure no fire had advanced above the ceiling where it could spread further in the building. No additional fire was found and it was determined that the sprinkler had operated as it should have and kept the fire confined to the area within the room where it started.
The fire occurred after dismissal of students but there were staff and after school programs in the building. All of the occupants responded appropriately to the alarm and evacuated the school.
Fire Investigators are working with police officials to determine the cause of the fire which remains under investigation. Damage from fire, smoke and water was estimated at roughly $20,000 but no one was injured. All personnel were clear of the scene by 1507.
Car Hits Building at Walgreens on Elliott St
At 1129 the Beverly Fire Department responded for a report of a car through the building at 54 Elliott St, Walgreens. Upon arrival, Deputy Chief William Petrosino found a car on a walkway up against the building with significant front end damage to the vehicle and one uninjured operator still in the car.
Crews assessed the damage to the building and found only minor cosmetic damage. The vehicle was towed from the scene and the elderly female driver refused medical treatment. Beverly Police responded to the scene and investigated the accident.
All fire personnel were clear of the scene by 1151 and no one was injured as a result of the accident.
FF. Jon Palm stands by at the scene of a motor vehicle crash on Rt. 128 S. after Essex St.
MVA Rt 128 South Bound 4/2/09
At 1047, the Beverly Fire Department responded for a report of a motor vehicle accident with a vehicle on its side on Route 128 south just southof Essex St. Upon arrival, Deputy Chief Paul Cotter found a two vehicle accident with one vehicle safely off to the side of the road with no injured passengers and a second vehicle in the high speed lane with three injured occupants. Neither vehicle was on its side, but there was evidence that the smaller car with the 3 occupants had been on its side for at least a portion of the crash.
The crew of Engine 5 led by firefighter Brian Miller assisted crews from NorthEast Regional Ambulance and Lyons Ambulance with packaging of the three individuals who did not appear to have any life threatening injuries.
All Beverly Fire personnel were clear of the accident scene by 1110.
