Firefighters Battle Town Common Grease Fire
Wilmington's Fourth of July festivities kicked off on Friday, and firefighters were put to work right away when a deep frier went up in flames.
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Fireworks are scheduled for Saturday and Tuesday in Wilmington. But a working fire started up unexpectedly on Friday night as the Fourth of July celebration got underway.
As residents filled the area around Town Common for the annual festivities, the deep frier outside the Wilmington Kiwanis Club tent went up in flames, providing a dramatic start to the weekend.
Wilmington Fire Lt. Gary Donovan said the fire was going for about five minutes before the department received the call. As the minutes went on, the flames grew further out of control and crews went to work in putting it out.
Donovan said a nearby truck fed a combination of water and foam through the hoses because water would have made the flames worse. The foam helped douse the flames, and there were no injuries as a result of the incident.
Though Donovan said this was a first in the decades he's worked the town's Fourth of July celebration.
"I've been called to Town Common for medical reasons, but this is the first time we've received a fire call like that," said Donovan.
The unsilent majority
6:43 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012
That. Was. AWESOME.
Ed Giroux
7:38 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012
What a great way for our W.F.D. to join in the opening festivites! glad everything was handled safely.
Sarah
8:53 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012
Is there any "after" pictures?
MJ Byrnes
8:55 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012
Wilmington Fire and Police did a wonderful job working together, to take care of this emergency. It was also good to see that that crowd also remained calm as this was all unfolding.
Skip
10:38 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012
The Kiwanis Club members and volunteers did a great job keeping things safe before the the fire trucks arrived. This fire and loss is really a shame - they all work so hard to raise money for charity, and they make the best fried dough in town - or at least they used to.
Kevin MacDonald
11:36 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012
Extra crispy now Skip!
Mike Champoux
12:00 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012
Thank God nobody was hurt. Kuddos and thanks to Kiwanis, fire and police. Happy 4th to all
Lennie Malvone
3:57 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012
The Police and esp the Wilmington Fire dept did a great job in containing what could have developed very quickly in to an ugly situation. Our fire and Police are a professional group who do a wonderful job
Bob Smith
1:08 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Listen this isn't a carnival ride.This situation could've been a lot worse.Thumbs up to the WFD.
Bob
9:11 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
This is the first time that I have posted, But after reading post after post from the town questioner I had to respond. Foam needs water to mix properly, If you just dump foam it will do nothing. Depending on the fire you can adjust the water/foam mix from 3% and go up so it will work.
Wilmington Fire did a great job with this, I know them personaly and work with them professionely and they always do a great job.
PP
11:34 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
The Kiwanians are a wonderful group of hardworking folks. I am sorry the fire marred the week for them. We are all thankful that no one was hurt.