Waltham Training Exercise

On Sunday June 10th Waltham Fire held a training exercise drill by the MBTA at the Beaver Street Railroad Crossing. The simulated accident was a motor vehicle stalled on train tracks is then struck by a commuter rail train trapping the victims in the vehicle and also side swipes a 18-wheel tanker truck causing a gasoline spill. Waltham Firefighters sprayed foam on the simulated gasoline spill and used the Jaws of Life to free the victims from the vehicle. The drill was a 2nd Alarm response plus an MCI (Mass Casulaty Incident) with an EMS triage center set up in a nearby parking lot. The drill was fantastic and gave emergency crews real hands on experience in the event this ever happens in real life.

Waltham Fire Holding Mock Train Accident

The Waltham Fire, Police & American Medical Response along with the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad will be holding a Mock Train vs Car accident Sunday June 10th 2012 from 7:30AM to 12:00PM at the Beaver Street Railroad Crossing in Waltham. Beaver Street will be closed during the Drill from Waverley Oaks Road To Warren Street. The Drill will simulate a car accident tanker which is then struck by a commuter rail train and clips an 18-wheel tanker truck according to Waltham Fire Lt. Mike Murphy. For a full explanation of the drill click the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef1DWGMttBI

Now A IFPA Member

I signed up the other day now I am a International Fire Photographers Association (IFPA) Member. Check out my profile here. http://ifpafirephotos.org/profile/MatthewCarter

Serious Accident Shuts Down South Street in Waltham

At 7:30AM Waltham Police, Car 2, Engine 4, Squad 5 and AMR units responded to 250 South Street for a reported motor vehicle vs telephone pole accident with Entrapment. Engine 4 on arrival reported a single vehicle accident into a telephone pole. Squad 5 popped the drivers side door open with the Jaws of Life. The victim was extricated, backboarded and transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Medflight was requested but not available due to rain showers in area. South Street remained closed for about 1 1/2 Hours for Accident Reconstruction by the Waltham Police Department. The accident remains under investigation.

3-Alarm Fire in Belmont Destroys Historic Home

At 5:13AM on Friday June 1st Belmont Fire received 911 calls reporting a house fire at the intersection of Blake & Clover Street. Box 516 was struck and on arrival of first companies heavy smoke was showing and a 2nd Alarm was struck. The structure was a 1800's 2.5 Story Wood Frame 40x40 Colonial which was under renovation. Heavy Fire was soon shooting out the 1st & 2nd Floor windows. Around 5:30AM a 3rd Alarm was struck. The fire extended into the attic rapidly. With holes in the floor from recent renovation just before 6:00AM the alert tones were sounded and all companies were ordered out of the building. Thick smoke covered the neighborhood off Waverley Avenue. Companies went into a defensive attack with multiple master streams and Watertown Ladder 1 & Cambridge Ladder 1 ran Ladder Pipes. Just before 7:30AM all exterior lines were shut down and companies began an interior attack and opened up walls and ceilings. Fire began venting out the roof and attic for a short while. Just after 8:00AM the fire was Knocked Down. Companies would stay on scene most of the day overhauling the large home. Mutual Aid was provided by Arlington, Watertown, Waltham & Cambridge. No one was injured and the fire remains under investigation.