Latest news with #DepartmentofFireServices
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Chicopee woman charged with arson following Belcher Street fire
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – A Chicopee woman was arrested and charged in connection with a three-alarm fire that left a dozen residents without a home on Sunday. Department of Fire Services Public Information Officer Jake Wark stated in a news release that Chicopee fire crews responded to 26 Belcher Street after 3:30 a.m. on Sunday for reports of a structure fire. Firefighters found the three-story, multi-family home in flames. Residents of ten units without home following Chicopee fire Chicopee crews were able to assist in evacuating all residents, as well as rescuing two pets Sunday morning. A third pet was rescued from the building on Monday after neighbors noticed it in a third-floor window. Firefighters worked to put out the fire for over two hours, with the building sustaining severe fire, smoke, and water damage as a result. State and local fire officials began investigating the cause of the fire and determined that it had begun in a second-floor bathroom. Investigators found through evidence and witness interviews that the fire had been intentionally set. Chicopee and state police officers identified 40-year-old Michelle Hall of Chicopee as a suspect connected to the fire. Hall had allegedly been involved in an altercation at the building before the fire took place. She was arrested Sunday evening and charged with arson. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Here's where to see fireworks this weekend in Massachusetts
The Fourth of July is still more than a month away. But Massachusetts residents don't need to wait to see fireworks displays. Though fireworks are banned in Massachusetts without proper certification, official events are scheduled across the state throughout the summer, including two this weekend. On Friday, a fireworks show is scheduled at Fitton Football Stadium in Worcester, following a Worcester Bravehearts baseball game. On Saturday, a fireworks display is planned at 10 p.m. at Dighton Town Hall, according to a list of sanctioned summer fireworks shows published by the state Department of Fire Services. For the full list of summer firework displays, click here. Read more: What happens if you set off fireworks in Mass.? You could be paying for the damages Authorities have urged members of the public to leave fireworks shows to the professionals. Between 2019 and 2023, officials said Massachusetts medical facilities treated more than 200 people for burns and other injuries associated with fireworks. Two dozen people were treated for severe burn injuries that covered 5% or more of their bodies. Karen Read retrial: Biggest takeaways from week 6 as prosecution rests its case No joke: A white pigeon walked into a Mass. fire dept., setting off a hunt for its owner Downtown Boston zoning changes could allow buildings up to 700 feet tall Man convicted of attempted kidnapping and rape on Massachusetts rail trail New poll shows who Dems want in 2028 — and it's not Kamala Harris Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fire officials urges proper disposal of lithium-ion batteries after recycling truck fire in Sunderland
SUNDERLAND, Mass. (WWLP) – Massachusetts fire officials are reminding residents of ways to properly dispose of lithium-ion batteries after a recycling truck fire in Sunderland. Last month, crews were called to a recycling truck fire on River Road in Sunderland. The Department of Fire Services said that the truck was collecting curbside recycling when the driver noticed the fire in the back of the truck. The driver called 911 and found a safe area to dump the burning contents, which is per their protocol. Jupiter Power lithium battery project in Westfield canceled over eco concerns The Sunderland Fire Department, with the help of the Sunderland Highway Department, was able to put the fire out and spread the recycling apart to be sure it was completely out. The cause, determined by the Department of Fire Services, was from lithium-ion batteries that were placed in a household's recycling bin. When it was collected by the truck, it was compacted, causing an uncontrolled increase in temperature inside the battery known as thermal runaway, resulting in a fire that spread quickly. Lithium-ion batteries can be found in many household items such as cell phones, laptops and tablets, watches, e-bikes, vape devices, electric vehicles, power tools, and many children's toys. Sunderland Chief Benjamin and State Fire Marshal Davine are reminding residents that these batteries should not be placed in the trash or household recycling. To properly dispose of lithium-ion batteries, they can be brought to a household hazardous waste collection site or a battery recycling center such as Staples, Home Depot, and Lowe's. To find a location near you, visit Lithium-Ion-BatteriesDownload WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Fire that closed 2 Mass. schools tied to code violations, officials say
A fire that caused two Massachusetts schools to closed has been tied to multiple code violations, according to Adams Fire Chief John M. Pansecchi and State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine. The massive fire was at a vacant 237,000-square foot mill building on 10 Harmony St. in Adams around 7:30 am on April 16. The fire drew firefighters from Pittsfield, Cheshire, North Adams, Lanesborough, Hinsdale, Dalton, Savoy and Williamstown. Firefighters spent about 10 hours battling the blaze. The volume of smoke produced by the fire prompted concerns about air quality in the area. Two nearby schools were closed in an abundance of caution and residents with respiratory vulnerabilities were advised to shelter in place. Overall, officials have found no evidence that it was intentionally set. But there were safety code violations. Pansecchi and code compliance officers from the Department of Fire Services identified several violations of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code. Specifically, they found that the property owner had violated several terms of a permit issued in 2019 by: Failing to install an approved lock box at the gate for fire department emergency access; Failing to seek a new permit when the building became occupied during unsanctioned work; and Failing to obtain a hot work permit for cutting and grinding metal operations within the structure. Each comes with a fine of $100. The hot work being performed inside the building required a permit because it involved using oxy-acetylene torches to cut metal for scrap. 'Cutting, grinding, welding, and other hot work requires training, certification, and a permit from the local fire department because of the inherent fire hazard posed by sparks and slag,' a press release stated. The investigation remains open. Read explicit messages between Cassie and Diddy at his sex trafficking trial Lucky for Life winner: $25,000 a year for life prize won in Massachusetts University system of Northeast state recommends closing a third of its campuses It was labeled and looked like Adderall. But thousands of pills were meth and caffeine Superior Court judge denies city's request to dismiss portion of police officers wage theft lawsuit Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Local fire departments benefit from state grant awards
Local fire departments received some much needed assistance from the state that will allow them to either purchase new gear or continue important safety programming. The Healey-Driscoll administration recently announced its final round of fire equipment and fire safety education grants, totaling more than $3 million for more than 300 Massachusetts fire departments. This round of grants will provide $1.63 million in funding to fire departments in 266 communities. In many cases, the reimbursed purchases will help them attain compliance with Occupational Safety & Health administration or National Fire Protection Association safety standards. Westfield, Southwick, Huntington, Granville and Montgomery were among those communities to receive a piece of that funding. 'Massachusetts firefighters do much more than fight fires — they're out first line of defense in any emergency,' said Governor Maura Healey. 'These grants will help firefighters protect themselves from injury and illness, rescue people in danger and keep our most vulnerable residents safe from fires and other hazards at home. We are proud to be able to support these vital first responders who never hesitate to answer a call for help.' These awards are drawn from grant programs coordinated by the Department of Fire Services. The Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program reimburses local fire departments for purchases of turnout gear, hoses and nozzles, ballistic protective equipment, gear washers and dryers, thermal imaging cameras, extrication equipment, hazardous gas meters and more. 'Firefighters train tirelessly for every conceivable emergency so that they can be prepared to help those in need,' said Lieutenant Gov. Kim Driscoll. 'Through this program, we acknowledge that tremendous commitment by investing in the equipment they need to be safe in any situation.' Huntington is the hilltown community with the biggest funding number in this round as they will receive $5,250 through the safety equipment grant program. Huntington Fire Chief Joshua Ellinger told the Westfield News this funding will go toward the purchase of a turnout gear dryer, something that gives the department a boost in efficiency. 'Being a small department we don't have a lot of extra funds to purchase many big-ticket items. I took a look at what was available and what we needed and so we looked at getting a turnout gear dryer for our gear,' Ellinger explained. Ellinger explained that the department's current gear washer and extractor decontaminates gear after use in the field but gear cannot dry in a conventional dryer which has led to the department air drying their gear in between uses. 'We've been leaving our firefighter gear out to dry and hoping we don't get another call,' Ellinger said. 'It's good for us, it's something we always wanted, and as you can see, we're spending every dollar we can get just to get one dryer that dries two sets of firefighting gear. So that's going to help us be able to respond faster, and our gear will be back in service quicker. Thank goodness we haven't run into the issue [of needing the gear during its air dry] because we're not a municipal department going out on fire calls every day.' Ellinger added the funding is huge for the department with its limited budget. He noted their budget comes 100% from the Huntington tax base and because of that they need grant funding opportunities such as this in order to make certain big-ticket purchases. 'The FEMA grants, we have no idea how those are going to work going forward with the way things have been going on the national level. Federal grants at the very lease, it's a 5% match for big ticket items, but its highly competitive. We're competing with fire departments from across the country. So, whenever the administration locally comes up with a good grant like this, a no match, it's fantastic. It means everything because our local towns people don't have to raise taxes just to afford an extra $10,000 worth of equipment from the fire department.' Other Hilltowns receiving this round of funding include Granville and Montgomery, who are receiving $1,855.86 and $2,504 respectively. Southwick will be receiving $3,667.94. S The Student Awareness of Fire Education — SAFE — Grant Program funds firefighter-educators who deliver age-appropriate fire and life safety education to school-age children. Since the grant's inception in 1995, the number of Massachusetts children who die in fires has dropped to historically low levels, from two dozen or more per year to zero for nearly three consecutive years. This year's awards will deliver more than $1.1 million to 204 local fire departments in the state. 'For 30 years, the SAFE grants have delivered life-saving lessons to Massachusetts kids and teens through our local firefighters,' said Secretary of Public Safety and Security Terrence Reidy. 'This is just one of the powerful local-state partnerships that make Massachusetts one of the safest places in the nation to live, work and raise a family.' In 2014, DFS launched the Senior SAFE Grant Program, which is geared toward another vulnerable population – older adults, who face a disproportionate risk of death or serious injury in a fire. Nearly $485,000 will support alarm installation, fire safety education, fall prevention strategies and other resources delivered by 203 local fire departments in partnership with local senior centers, councils on aging and other community partners. 'People aged 65 and older are at greatest risk of death or serious injury in a fire at home,' said State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine. 'The Senior SAFE grants make a difference by sending trained firefighters to conduct home safety assessments, install or replace smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and help our seniors age in place safety and independently.' Westfield Fire Department is receiving $1,500 and $2,600 for the SAFE and Senior SAFE grants, respectively. Westfield Fire Deputy Chief Seth Ellis told the Westfield News the funding on the SAFE grant end will be utilized to send someone on staff to become a qualified educator for the program. 'We're actually trying to rebuild a little bit after COVID,' Ellis said. 'The state fire academy runs an educator program for SAFE and through retirements and a couple other things, starting with COVID and continuing a little bit, we no longer have someone in the department that is qualified for that so that's what we went for this year was to fix that deficiency so we can start rebuilding the program.' Southwick Fire Chief Richard Stefanowicz could not be reached for comment as of press time.
