Norfolk Fire Department Deluged With Calls

The Norfolk Fire Department remained constantly busy between 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 14 and 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 16. During this time firefighters handled 49 incidents, including 28 water emergencies (flooded basements), six emergency medical transports by ambulance, an electrical fireat Pondville Corrections, and 14 other emergencies.

(Above): Norfolk Firefighter/Paramedics Pat Rockett and Mark Haigh remove a tree from Need­ham Street on Monday, March 15 during the long storm. Photos Courtesy of the Norfolk Fire Department According to Norfolk Fire Chief Cole Bushnell, many of the flooded basements caused damage to heating and electrical systems along with furnishings. One home on the Charles River off of River Road re­quired sandbags and pumps to protect the structure’s integrity. Also on River Road, firefighters dressed in cold water suits to remove a large propane tank from a home to prevent a possible fire.

Firefighters cleared two streets of trees which fell in the high winds. Firefighters also spent time restarting or helping residents get existing sump pumps running. Several homes were so affected by rising water that the Electrical Inspector was forced to shut off power to the homes.

(Above): Norfolk Firefighter/Paramedics Lt. Mike Findlen, Dave Russo and Jamie Mas­terson retrieve a propane tank from a flooded seasonal resi­dence on Lake Shore Drive on Monday, March 15. Firefight­ers used cold water suits to reach the propane tank in high water caused by days of rain on Populatic Pond. The propane tank was removed by a propane firm. Tuesday represented the biggest challenge to the Department, as four emergencies were reported within 15 minutes.

First, at around 8 a.m., the on-shift staffs worked on Noon Hill Avenue to clear a basement of water, as­sisted by the Electrical Inspector, who was checking the condition of the home’s electrical wiring under water.

(Left): Deputy Fire Chief Ste­phen Wood and Lt. Jack Kelley work to clear a Rockwood Road basement of over a foot of wa­ter on Monday, March 15. Fire­fighters also re-installed a sump pump at this residence to keep the water away from the fur­nace. Many grateful homeown­ers thanked firefighters during the extended rainy weather for helping to protect their heating units and personal property. This was followed by a report of smoke coming through vents at Pondville Corrections on Industries Drive shortly after 8 a.m. On-shift staff responded with Engine 2, and recalled staff on Ladder 1 arrived to findsmoke in the attic. After searching with thermal imag­ing cameras, they located a burned out heating motor. Minutes later, a gas leak was reported on Pine Street near Old Coach Road. This was handled by En­gine 1, diverted from the Pondville response. Bay State Gas later responded to this incident as well, and they repaired a leak on the gas main.

(Right): Lt. Jack Kelley watches over pumps being used to clear a Geneva Road residence on Monday, March 15. This base­ment had over two feet of water and required the services of the Electrical Inspector to ensure the building was safe. While firefighters operated at both scenes, the Emergency Communications Dispatcher reported an odor of fuel oil in the Public Safety Building. Because all of Norfolk’s apparatus was committed, Wrentham Firefightersresponded with an engine company. This incident was attributed to the building’s heating sys­tem.