Above: In December, the Southborough Fire Department put out a fire in a Parkerville Road home. (image from Facebook)
It has been a month since I shared news on what the Southborough Fire Department and Police Department have been up to. So, I’m rounding up recent highlights and sharing the latest police logs.
Emergency Responses, Training, and Communications
In December, the SFD posted that personnel were putting the training tower to good use, focusing on handling a chimney fire:
This month, members of the Southborough Fire Department have been training on how to properly handle a chimney fire. Ensuring proper safety measures are taken, understanding common hazards, and practicing techniques to prevent fire spread can limit damage to a home in a chimney fire incident. Using a smoke machine, members used a prop to simulate the firebox and chimney flue so the crew can practice clearing obstructions.
One day later, a chimney fire was reported in Southborough:
Late [December 19th], Firefighters responded to Parkerville Road for a report of a chimney fire. Upon arrival smoke was coming from the eaves of the home. Crews stretched a handline and found a fire in the walls and ceiling around the fireplace. Firefighters from Engine 23 and Ambulance 29 made a quick knockdown, controlling the fire from spreading throughout the home. No one was injured, but the front room of the house sustained significant fire and smoke damage. Southborough was assisted by Ashland Fire Department and Westborough Fire Department. Framingham Fire Department provided station coverage.
Earlier in the month, an injuryless vehicle crash on the edge of the reservoir afforded the SFD an opportunity to help while practicing skills useful in worse scenarios:
Icy roads contributed to this motor vehicle accident on the the Boston Rd causeway this morning. There were no injuries, however a motorcycle & job box in the truck bed launched into the MWRA reservoir requiring SFD crews to don cold-weather suits to assist Ted’s of Fayville towing company with recovery. The crash took down a untility pole requiring response from National Grid, closing the road during rush hour. There was a minimal hazmat spill requiring a response from the Massachusetts Water Recourse Authority (MWRA) & Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) Rangers to investigate. While not an emergency response, incidents like these offer SFD crews the opportunity to practice skills in a controlled and safe environment.
In mid-December, the SFD used a photo from a car crash at Main Street and Johnson Road to remind drivers that roads can be slick this time of year.
These days, the Town’s police and fire personnel are better able to communicate with each other across town. But, residents who had been listening over analog scanners may have been surprised to lose the signal. The SFD explained:
In a measure to improve emergency radio communications town-wide, both the fire and police departments have moved from analog to digital radio transmissions. Although the departments are using the same radio frequencies as before, the voice transmission is now instantaneously converted into a simplified computer language, which can then be transmitted more efficiently over greater distances. While digital signals do still diminish in quality as distance from the transmitter increases, they offer much greater clarity over greater distances than analog systems. Members of the community that have scanners may no longer be able to hear emergency radio traffic. A solution, for those interested, is to purchase a digital-capable scanner.
Covid-Safety
Coordinated by Southborough Emergency Management, the Town installed temperature scanners at entrances to municipal buildings including the Public Safety Building:
If you’ve visited one of the town municipal offices lately, you’ve likely seen one of the new infrared touchless thermometers. These were purchased through a federal preparedness grant awarded to the Southborough Emergency Management Agency (SEMA). SEMA coordinated with the fire, health and facilities departments to determine best locations, distribution and installation of these great screening tools.
This week, Southborough Police and Fire personnel received Covid-19 vaccinations.
Feel Good News
The SPD posted that the department raised money for a good cause this fall:
No Shave November turned out to be a great success for the Southborough Police Department.
The department was able to raise $2,630 for “Home Base”.
Home Base is a Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program, dedicated to healing the invisible wounds of Veterans of all eras; Service Members; Military Families and Families of the Fallen through world-class clinical care, wellness, education and research. Home Base operates the first and largest private-sector clinic in the nation; devoted to providing life-saving clinical care and support for the treatment of the invisible wounds to include post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, anxiety, depression, co-occurring substance use disorder, family relationship challenges and other issues associated with military service.
A big THANK YOU to all who bought a patch and contributed to the success of this fundraiser. We couldn’t have done it without you!!
The SFD posted a thank you to those who waved to Santa on Santa Day. They also posted a Thank you to everyone who supported Project Just Because by donating “hundreds of toys, clothing, diapers, and personal care items for Metrowest children in need this season”.
Police Logs & Statistics
The Southborough Fire Department’s November and December reports have been posted. In those two months, personnel responded to 226 incidents, including 9 fires and 130 emergency medical calls.
The police logs since December 7th, list over 400 incidents/reports. SPD responded to 24 car accidents. No break-ins were reported, but there was one auto theft and a dozen reported cases of larceny, forgery, or fraud.
Officers made three arrests, pressed Criminal Charges related to five other incidents, and took four complaints of harassment. (Any incidents of Domestic Disturbance are omitted by law.)
The latest logs are below*: [click to keep reading…]
Tagged as:
Southborough Police Log
