Fighting Fires
Putting the Wet Stuff on the Red Stuff

Simply put and as our name indicates, one major mission in of the Waltham Fire Department is to put out fires. Our top priority is always protecting life - getting people out to safety. Next is protecting property, which can involve protecting exposures to prevent fire spread, containing fires to small areas and finally extinguishing the fire. While these basic tasks have not changed much through the years, the kinds of fires we fight and the dangers we face have changed dramatically. The fires we fight can be broken down into the following categories:

• Residential Fires
These incidents involve single-family and multi-family homes, as well as, dormitory, apartment and residential complexes. Today's homes are better insulated which means fires burn hotter and can spread more quickly. Smoke detectors and 911 have both helped to catch fires earlier and get us there more quickly. However, this means fire fighters are often arriving at earlier stages in the fire cycle and can become victims of backdraft or flashover. Also, plastics and composite materials in modern homes combine to produce toxic fumes that can be more harmful than in years past.



• Commerical Fires
Waltham is a diverse community which also contains commercial properties. These structures vary in size, type, and construction. Typical commerical buildings range from small convenience stores and older factory-mill buildings to large corporations and modern office parks. The highly publicized 1999 Worcester Fire illustrated some of dangers that a commerical building can pose. However, each building varies in its commerical usage and presents its own set of dangers. Some of these dangers include chemical storage, biohazards, radioactive materials and the building's construction itself. We strive to familiarize ourselves with every commercial property in Waltham through our annual inspections. Although inspections and fire preplanning are extremely valuable they cannot completely eliminate the occurrence of a fire in a commercial structure. Periodically, these fires can and do occur.

• Vehicle Fires
With more and more vehicles on the road, we find ourselves fighting a greater number of vehicle fires. These incidents can occur virtually anywhere - from driveways and garages to side streets or highways. Under fire conditions, oils and greases can combine with plastics and composite materials in today's cars and trucks to produce dangerous toxic fumes. Additionally, air bags and shock absorbent pistons in front and rear bumpers present further dangers to fire fighters trying to extinguish these blazes. Hazardous cargo can also be found in these vehicles.



• Brush-Wildland Fires
Although Waltham is mainly a heavily populated city, it still retains some large wooded areas such as Prospect Hill and the trails surrounding the Paine Estate. These areas can present fire hazards during hot, dry or windy weather. Fires in wooded areas fueled by strong winds could destroy this precious wildland and spread quickly to nearby homes if not for quick action by fire fighters.



• Trash-Dumpster Fires
Its not just "a dumpster fire." Any fire has the potential to cause serious property damage and could result in injury to fire fighters and the public at large. All to often the contents of a trash-dumpster fire are unknown to responding fire companies. Hazardous materials, general house hold chemicals, plastics and ordinary combustibles may combine in these fire situations making fire suppression a difficult task.


Fire Fighting Tactics
Each fire company serves a specific purpose on the fire ground.
• Engine Company Operations:
• Ladder Company Operations:
• Rescue Squad Operations:

Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

"I called 911 for an Ambulance.
Why is a Fire Truck here?"

The Suppression Division of the Waltham Fire Department provides emergency medical services throughout the city in a coordinated effort with Waltham's contract ambulance service - American Medical Response (AMR). We are usually the first to respond because we have more staff and are usually located closer than the ambulance crews. We have 10 fire apparatus located at six stations throughout the city compared with one BLS ambulance and one Medic unit that AMR has dedicated to the city of Waltham. All of our fire fighters are trained medical first responders and certified in cardiac defibrillation. All our fire apparatus carry oxygen, medical kits, cervical collars and cardiac defibrillators. Furthermore, many of our fire fighters are Emergency Medical Technicians (E.M.T.s) and several others are Paramedics.

Many of our calls involve moving or carrying heavy patients to the ambulance which often requires all three fire fighters on the apparatus along with the two ambulance workers. During cardiac emergencies, you will see a fire truck, ambulance and medic unit. All this staffing is necessary to properly administer CPR with a cardiac defibrillator. To take you through a typical call, one fire fighter might maintain a seal on the oxygen delivery device, one fire fighter will compress and deliver the oxygen, while the third fire fighter will perform chest compressions. A fourth person, usually an E.M.T. from the BLS ambulance will operate the defibrillator. The fifth person, the other E.M.T. from the BLS ambulance will collect important medical information about the patient from the family members or by conducting various evaluations. The medic crew will then concentrate on intubating the patient and administering drugs necessary to revive a patient. All of these resources will try to stabilize the patient before transporting to the hospital.

Technical Rescues
Overview

The term rescue has more than one obvious meaning in the fire service. Most would easily associate rescue with firefighters pulling potential victims out of a firey building. Over time however, our rescue mission has expanded to pulling victims out of any and all dangerous situations.

Completing this expanded mission often requires the use of special tools. These include repelling and hauling ropes, hydraulic rescue tools -- often called "the jaws of life", high-strength inflatable air bags, collapse and confined space equipment and many other items. Such technical rescue tools and operations have evolved into a special area of the fire service demanding dedicated companies and apparatus.

In the City of Waltham, we have two apparatus with special rescue equipment, Rescue-6 and Squad-5. Rescue-6 is called a Heavy Rescue because it is mainly dedicated to performing rescue operations. Squad-5, on the other hand, is more like a typical fire pumper but outfitted with hydraulic rescue tools and some other rescue equipment.

Rescue Companies at Fires
While every fire is different, the first mission of a Rescue company at a building fire is to search for victims on the fire floor or above the fire and get any people found to safety. This task must be performed quickly and therefore is often done without the crew carrying a charged hoseline (which would help protect the firefighters from the fire). At other times, the Rescue company may perform other more routine functions at a fire such as:
• operating a hose line
• setting up ladders
• ventilating (cutting holes in the roof or opening/breaking windows
• overhauling the fireground

Technical Rescue
Just as Rescue companies work as a team at building fires with other department crews (Ladder and Engine companies), Ladder and Engine companies often support firefighters on the Rescue when emergency calls come in that require technical rescue procedures.

While firefighters assigned to Rescue-6 or Squad-5 are most familiar with each unit's tools, all department members work together to complete a successful rescue. Examples of technical rescue incidents could include:
• Person Trapped Under or in a Vehicle
• Trench Collapse with Workers Buried
• Hiker Fallen Off Cliff at Prospect Hill
• Building Collapse
• Child Fallen in Well or Stuck in Pipe

Some of the tools found on Rescue-6 which could be used to perform rescues in the above situations include:
• Inflatable Air Bags
• Electric and Hydraulic Extrication Tools
• Cribbing, Strong-Backs and Air Struts
• Ropes, Repelling Equipment, Stokes Basket, Tripod
• Assorted Power Saws, Hand Tools and Demolition Equipment


Property Protection/Water Emergencies

Flood Response

Heavy rains, melting snow, and overflowing waterways can, at times, pose a danger to the citizens and businesses of Waltham. The Waltham Fire Department is not only responsible for the protection of lives, but also property threatened by such flooding scenarios.

Depending on the amount of flooding, our duties can range from simply using mops and squeegies, to operating electric and motorized pumps hitched up to hoses, to clean up, divert or remove the water. In some other instances, we may work with the department of public works using sand or sand bags to block and divert rising waters. And when lives are at stake, we can use our Fire Department boats, ropes and ladders to assist wtih rescues of stranded victims (from flooded structures, vehicles or remote locations).

Electrical Emergencies

Fire Fighters are often the first to respond to electrical emergencies, which usually consist of power lines that have fallen, arcing wires or transformer explosions/fires. The causes can range from tree, wind and storm damage to vehicles crashing into utility poles. Our job at these incidents is mainly to secure the scene and keep people from coming in contact with dangerous electrical currents.

Electricity proves to be as dangerous to us as it is to average citizens. Our fire fighting protective clothing offers no added security from the dangers of electricity. Therefore, we rely on the expertise of N-Star and licensed electricians to properly handle these emergency situations. In most cases we must wait for these experts to shut down the electrical source before we can move the wires or put out transformer fires.

Gas Leaks & Carbon Monoxide Emergencies

Natural gas, propane and similar fuels can pose a serious danager when not contained properly. Breeches or leaks in their storage containers or supply lines can trigger massive explosions and fires. The Waltham Fire Department responds to these types of emergencies, often in conjunction with gas company experts. Our duties range from rescue and evacuation if necessary, to fire extinguishment, or to locating the leak and shutting off the supply of gas. In addition to our regular equipment, fire apparatus carry gas detectors to help us with these types of calls.

Another gas related emergency, which often requires Fire Department response, is the build up of carbon monoxide (CO). This odorless, colorless gas can rise to dangerous levels in homes, vehicles and buildings. Often these life-threatening levels of CO go undetected. The build of CO in the effected area builds up CO in the bodies of victims in that location. That build up inhibits oxygen exchange and can cause victims to become seriously ill or even die.

The cause of dangerous CO build up is often attributed to products of incomplete combustion, meaning car exhaust, home heating systems, etc.


Animal Emergencies

Animal Emergency Incidents

Through its history, the fire department is often associated with rescuing cats from trees. Although we do sometimes perform this type of "rescue" most felines are quite capable of eventually getting down safely on their own. However, animals sometimes do get caught in other dangerous places or situations where the Fire Department must intervene and perform a rescue. Deer and dogs falling through ice, a cat stuck in a wall are just a few examples of the types of animal incidents we have responded to in recent years.

Sometimes wild animals also find their way into residential property which prompts a call for help to the Fire Department. Bats, raccoons and skunks top the list of typical intruders. In some instances we work with the city animal control officer to solve the problem. Most often we successfully remove the animal very quickly. With bats, residents can usually get the animal to leave without involving us by turning on the light in the room, closing all doors and leaving a window open. This provides an easy exit for the creature. Within a short time, the bat usually leaves.


Inspections

Inspections

Engine, Ladder and Rescue companies perform various inspections throughout the city in addition to their emergency response calls. Most of these inspections are performed while "in-service", meaning our units will leave the inspection and respond to emergency calls when needed and then return to the inspections.

Fire suppression handles inspections of commercial properties, hotels, nursing homes, boarding houses and smoke detectors at single and two family homes. Additionally, each year our companies inspect every fire hydrant in the city and test all our fire department hoses. Furthermore, each day our fire fighters inspect the fire apparatus and equipment that their lives depend on.

You can find out more about each type of inspection we perform by clicking on the links below
Commercial Property
Hotels
Nursing Homes
Boarding Houses
Single & Two Family Homes
Hydrants
Hose
Apparatus
Equiptment



Prevention

The mission of the Fire Prevention Division is to provide life safety and property (both residential and commercial) protection information, and related inspections, to all who work and reside in the City of Waltham. This important branch of the department is responsible for the enforcement of all State fire prevention laws (MGL CH148) and codes (527CMR) within the City of Waltham. The Fire Prevention Bureau also manages all record keeping for the Waltham Fire Department. Additionally, this division responds to resident, business and industry complaints relating to fire and/or life safety issues.

Education

Fire & Life Safety Education

The Waltham Fire Department Fire Prevention Division is responsible for developing and administering a comprehensive fire and life safety education program for the residents and business people of Waltham. The goal of this program is to train people how to properly react in emergency situations and to save lives.
Our education efforts are targeted towards people of all ages and groups, including:
• Pre-School
• Elementary School
• Middle School
• High School
• College
• Business and Industry
• Senior Citizens
This portion of the program devoted to young people is part of the statewide S.A.F.E. (Student Awareness of Fire Education) program.



We strive to make our education programs available in multiple languages so that we can reach all the families living in Waltham. Our ultimate goal is to reduce the number of fire deaths and injuries.

Training
Under the direction of Deputy Michael Grigorakos, the Waltham Fire Department Training Division initiates and supervises the job development of fire fighters commencing with the probationary period and continuing throughout their career. This training takes place not only on the job, but at the drill tower located behind Central Station, the 911 training room, the Massachusetts Fire Academy in Stow, off-site MFA classes and map classes inside each and every Waltham station.

Training Division classes focus on techniques for fire fighting, rope and water rescue, hazardous materials and terrorist events, vehicle extrication, emergency medical services and much more. The WFD Training Division also supports continuing education for fire fighters earning their degrees in fire science by providing space for off-campus classes in the 911 center.

Furthermore, the Division is involved in research programs designed to improve fire fighting techniques, fire fighting apparatus (vehicles) and equipment, and protection of fire fighters. The Division prepares specifications for new fire apparatus and tests and evaluates new tools and appliances before their use in the Department.

In addition to training, maintenance, and research, the Division also oversees safety protocols, as well as cardiac defibrillator and first responder medical certifications for the Department.


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