Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today, November 14

Several meetings take place Monday night.

"Five Things you Need to Know Today" is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance. Check back later for more, and let us know what you think of the new feature in the comments section. 1. Temperatures will be reasonably warm on Monday, but it'll be a mixed bag to start the week as far as conditions go. According to Weather.com, temperatures will reach 65° during day. Expect a mix of clouds and sun in the morning with a 30 percent chance of showers in the afternoon and evening. 2. Wilmington's Board of Selectmen gets back to work this evening to kick off the week. Members gather at Town Hall in Room 9, with the session slated for 7 p.m. 3. There will be a special presentation at the selectmen's …

• Photos (1)

Then and Now

Then and Now: Fire Department

After a long time on Church Street, the department moved down the road.

In this Then and Now we take a glimpse into the history of the Wilmington Fire Department. Unlike the Police Department, the Fire Department stayed put for the most part. In this Then photo, taken around 1906, you see one of the first photos of the department ever taken. The Wilmington Fire Department had just formed in 1903 after a Special Town Meeting was called to address the lack of firefighting equipment and abilities of the town. In this meeting, the town voted to form a fire department and give them a house on Church Street, where the Post Office stands today and can be seen in this Now photo. There was also a barn and corral for the firemen's horses built a bit later on. The original Fire Department consisted of 23 volunteer …

• Photos (3)

Church Street Fire Originated in Kitchen

The fire at 8 Church Street yesterday originated in the first-floor kitchen.

The fire at 8 Church Street yesterday started in the kitchen, Lt. Rick McClellan said today. The fire originated from the first-floor apartment. The dog and two cats were last seen inside the apartments and are presumed to be deceased. After over two hours of fighting the fire and heavy smoke, Wilmington firefighters, along with firefighters from North Reading, Andover and Tewskbury, were able to stop the blaze. "Part of the first floor collapsed into the basement; part of the second floor was in the first floor," said Lt. McClellan.  After investigating the scene, the Wilmington Fire Department has determined the fire started in the first-floor kitchen, in the apartment where tenant Denise Dausch was residing. She was not home at the …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

Lisa Spinelli

12:41 pm on Friday, December 17, 2010

Our pleasure Michelle! Hope it helps Scott out. And if anyone has a link to help raise funds for Denise Dausch, we'd be happy to include that one as well. Happy Holidays to all!   more ›

Fire Consumes Duplex Home on Church Street

A blaze at 8 Church Street consumes the two-apartment home and very probably the pets inside.

Fire consumed the two-story duplex at 8 Church Street this afternoon and one dog and two cats were known to be inside, said Wilmington Fire Chief Edward Bradbury; however no people were reported injured. Heavy smoke permeated the area and police blocked off traffic from the intersection of Church and Main Street down to Adelaide Street (near the Police and Fire Station). The call came into the Fire Department at about 1:28 p.m. from a passing police car, said Chief Bradbury. Six fire engines from three different towns–North Reading, Tewksbury, and Andover–and Wilmington's new ladder truck, were all on the scene. Town Manager Michael Caira also made a visit. The downstairs resident, 44-year-old Denise Dausch, was not home when the fire …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (11)

Lisa Spinelli

8:45 am on Thursday, December 16, 2010

My sincerest condolences to Scott and his friends and family. I do feel for him and Ms. Dausch's loss(es)–especially regarding the pets. I certainly hope you all reach your donation goals. Thanks for posting!   more ›

Who Do You Call?

'Tis the Season For Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Who do you call when your carbon monoxide detector is trying to jangle a very loud jingle?

You come home from Christmas shopping to find your house all a jingle jangle from the carbon monoxide detector. Who do you call and what do you do? The first thing you want to do is call the Fire Department, then get out of the house, said Lt. Rick McClellan of the Wilmington Fire Department.  From November until February carbon monoxide detectors spring to life in town, said McCleallan, who noted that it's probably due to people turning on their heating systems.  If no one feels sick, please let the Fire Dept. know so they don't risk life and limb getting your home. If no one is in eminent danger, the firefighters can just go with the flow of traffic. But, if you or your children feel nauseous, dizzy, confused or if you have a …

• Photos (1)

Wilmington Fire Department Wins $10,000 Grant

Wilmington's Fire Department won another Liberty Mutual grant.

The Wilmington Fire Department won a $10,000 grant from Liberty Mutual, Town Manager Michael Caira announced at the Board of Selectmen meeting last night. Wilmington is among 10 communities nationwide that won Liberty Mutual's 2010 Be Fire Smart Pledge Program grant.  "Wilmington was the only one repeated recipient in the country for Liberty Mutual's awards," said Caira.  The Town of Wilmington won a similar grant from Liberty Mutual in July for the Fourth of July celebrations, called Bring Back the Fourth. In both cases Wilmington won in the medium-sized community category.  Chief Bradbury plans to buy a new thermal imaging camera with the grant money, Caira said.  "I suspect there will be a presentation ceremony at some point," said …

• Photos (3)

Week in Review: Nov. 8 to 14

Our launch week brought you loads of news on Veterans Day and sports, charitable and entertaining events and more.

This was our launch week and we went "live" on one of the most treasured (and busy) holidays in Wilmington–Veterans Day.   We wanted to give you great, visual, coverage of the actual Veterans Day ceremony and exhibit down on the town common, and showcase the Wilmington High School band that was bigger and better than ever. But we also wanted to highlight veterans in our community, like the many veterans who continue their public service after (or during) their military service as firefighters. In addition, we also spotlighted the great work the Local Heroes, Inc. organization has done, and continues to do, for the troops by visiting them for their six-year anniversary meeting, where over 100 boxes were packaged up with …

• Photos (8)
• Videos (1)

Cutting-Edge Fire Truck Arrives

A brand new 2010 ladder truck arrives at the Wilmington Fire Department.

After more than two decades, the Fire Department is finally able to lay their 1986 ladder truck to rest with the delivery of a brand new ladder truck. "It's obviously a significant investment in the public safety infrastructure and long overdue," said Town Manager Michael Caira. "It will not only improve the Fire Department's ability to fight fires, but will protect the safety of residents and improve the safety of the firemen." The new E-ONE HP100 Platform truck cost the town $975,000. The new ladder truck has a 100-foot tower ladder and a bucket capacity of 1,305 pounds – up from the old truck's bucket capacity of 250 pounds, which meant really only one firefighter could go into the bucket at a time. There is a mounted camera for …

• Photos (11)