Twice each year, Fire Chief David Durgin submits a breakdown of the Northborough Fire Department's activities to the Board of Selectmen and administration.
Here, we share with you some of the highlights.
Between July and December of 2012, the fire department responded to 1,061 incidents, which can be broken into 478 fire responses and 583 requests for emergency medical services.
"As with past reports, weather continues to be a major driver of the department's services," wrote Durgin, "with Hurricane Sandy resulting in 17 storm-related responses and the October Nor'Easter with 37 requests for service from wind, snow and downed power lines and branches."
Firefigthers responded to a working building fires at Reliable Package and a structure at 33 St. James Drive during this time period. Also, a fire in a computer power supply and laptop at Algonquin Regional High School, "while minor, resulted in substantial loss of computer equipment from the dry powder fire extinguishing agent used by the school's staff to put out the fire." There were also two major gas leaks on Church Street and Otis Street due to construction activities.
Assisting neighboring towns, Northborough responded with two engines to a multiple alarm barn fire in Westborough, which also saw a fire at the Chateau Restaurant. Shrewsbury and Marlborough also called upon Northborough's assistance for fires.
Other notable responses included a quick hitting ice storm on Dec. 16 that required attention to numerous car crashes that involved injuries. On Dec. 26, three youngsters were separated from their parents while hiking on the Jubilee Trail. Both the police and fire departments responded, collaborating also with the Massachusetts State Police to find the children.
More Northborough Fire Department responses during the July-December, 2012, period (this is by no means an exhaustive list):
July
- A first alarm building fire at 157 South St.
- An electrical fire at 293 West Main St. that extended to the building
August
- Mulch fires at Shops Way
- A gas line puncture caused by construction crews on Otis Street
September
- Mulch fires at Shops Way
- Dumpster fire at 39A Pleasant St.
- Gas leak at 6 Church St.
October
- Mutual aid to Hopkinton for a car that went into the water at the Whitehall boat ramp
- Response to issues surrounding a Nor'Easter, Oct. 29-30
November
- Lawn tractor fire at 13 River St.
- First alarm building fire with extensive damage at 33 St. James Drive
- Car crash with outside fire at 170 Church St.
- Fire/crash on 290 in Marlborough
- Two alarm fire off Lincoln Street
December
- Cooking oil fire at 20 Gale St.
- Ice storm on Dec. 16
- Electric coffee pot fire at 7000 Avalon Drive