The Swellesley Report

More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.

Wellesley firefighter takes part in terrorism response exercise

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Operation SCORE (Statewide Collapse Operations Response Exercise)

 

Wellesley Firefighter Dana Gerrans was among those participating in a recent full-scale terrorism response exercise between firefighter technical rescue personnel and the national guard over three days in Bourne at Joint Base Cape Cod. Gerrans is one of four WFD firefighters assigned to the regional technical rescue team.

“I’m very proud of the work Firefighter Gerrans performed and know the exercise makes our community and our statewide ability to respond to a manmade or natural disaster stronger due to the enhanced interoperability between the fire service and the national guard,” says Wellesley Fire Chief Richard DeLorie.

The exercise brought together approximately 350 members of the 5 regional technical rescue teams from across Massachusetts, 200 personnel from the Massachusetts National Guard, as well as staff from the Department of Fire Services  and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA).   

MORE: Here’s what that Wellesley Fire Station construction is all about

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Wellesley observes 16th anniversary of Sept. 11

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At the Wellesley Hills Fire Department Headquarters on Route 9, Wellesley this morning observed the 16 year anniversary of the September 11 attacks. A crowd of about 30 people were on hand to remember the events and those who died in New York City; Washington, D.C.; and outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania. A total of 2,977 people were killed on 9/11/2001. Of those who died, 343 were New York City firefighters, 23 were New York City police officers, and 31 were officers at the Port Authority.

I spoke with Fire Chief Rick DeLorie who said, “As long as I’m here, we intend to hold this service every year to remember those who died and were injured on 9/11.”

The 9/11 memorial observances are held inside the station, so vehicles are parked outside at the ready in case of emergency. A call did indeed come in.

 

Before the ceremony.

 

Wellesley, September 11
Rabbi Moshe Bleich from Wellesley Weston Chabad was on hand to deliver remarks and prayers. Fire Chief Rick DeLorie, left.

 

Wellesley, September 11
State Representative Alice Hanlon Peish.

 

Wellesley, September 11
Jack Morgan, Board of Selectmen.

 

Wellesley, Sept. 11
The Wellesley Fire Rescue Honor Guard.

 

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Here’s what that Wellesley Fire Station construction is all about

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Wellesley Fire Department Station OneWe were at July Jubilation in Wellesley Square last weekend, and grabbed a couple of hot dogs from the crew in front of the Wellesley Fire Department’s Station One, which was also hosting a dunk tank and petting zoo. Things couldn’t have been more normal.

But then early this week we noticed orange fencing and some sort of construction going on. Here’s what’s up, according to WFD’s Jeff Peterson:

“Station One is in the midst of two projects. The first one is the replacement of the driveway on the Central Street side. The second project, which will begin next week, is the re-coating of the apparatus floor. During this time, engine one will be parked outside on the side of the station and responding from there.”

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Wellesley High hosts Massachusetts Fallen Heroes tour

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Massachusetts Fallen Heroes will be bringing its annual statewide educational initiative to Wellesley High School on Thursday at 10am, sharing stories with students of the ultimate sacrifices made by those from Massachusetts  who served in the U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Wellesley visit, which will emphasize the importance of Memorial Day, is part of a 10-day series of events honoring local veterans and families of those killed in combat. The organization was started in 2010 by firefighters, police officers, veterans, Gold Star families and others.

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Burn, baby, burn in Wellesley

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Once again, with the blessing of the Wellesley Fire Department and the Massachusetts Board of Fire Prevention, I collected a couple of helpers and set a corner of my yard afire. Without the almost pagan ritual of our annual burn, I just don’t know what I would do with that pile of thorny rose vines, tree branches, my old Palm Sunday palms, the Christmas tree, hedge clippings, and other woody debris that I’ve collected throughout the year. There’s the RDF yard waste area, of course, but I always seem to collect more yard waste on a weekly basis than I can cram into my car next to the recycling and the trash.

It’s easy to get an Open Air Burning Permit in Wellesley. You just have to follow a few common-sense rules. The Wellesley Fire Department requires that a garden hose be available at the site of the burning. Nobody wants to see the peony beds go up in flames accidentally, or worse yet, the woods.

 

Items allowed for burning are brush, cane, driftwood and forestry debris. No hay, leaves or stumps may be burned. The burn must be at a location greater than 75 feet from any dwelling. This rule is probably the most challenging for Wellesley residents, given the close proximity of homes to one another in many neighborhoods.

 

Permission to burn must be obtained each day that you wish to burn. Weather conditions are taken into consideration when determining if burning will be allowed each day, and burn hours are between 10am and 4pm.

 

That’s all there is to it. You sign your agreement to the rules, which must be done at the Wellesley fire station at 457 Worcester St., and you’re given a number. On the day you want to burn, you call the Fire Department, identify yourself by your permit number, and you will receive permission, or not. The OK is not a given. There are a few weather particulars that can stand in your way. If the cloud cover is too low, you’ll get a no. If it’s windy, it’s a big no. If it’s been dry lately, that’s another no. I really cut it close this year, doing my burn on the last possible day.

 

When the conditions are right, and the labor is willing, there’s nothing to match a good old-fashioned backyard burn. Here are my helpers, keeping in constant attendance, per regulations. They’ve just thrown on the Christmas tree. Once you’ve seen a Christmas tree go up in flames in your backyard, you’ll wonder why you ever had that potential fireball in your home.

 

If I tend my burn properly, I’m not left with a pile of ash to dispose of. It’s a matter of spreading the debris out with an iron rake as I go. Photo credit (accusation?), Bob Brown.

 

That’s that. The grass seed has been set out and in another month, God willin and the river don’t rise, this unsightly patch will be green again.

 

We aren’t the only pyromaniacs in town. According to a fire department representative, this year 37 households in town applied for a permit and 47 requests to burn were granted. 

 

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