Firefighters rescue Franklin St. woman
Published on July 15th, 1998
STONEHAM, MA - Stoneham firefighters made a dramatic rescue at the Villa Grande apartment building on Saturday, saving the life of an 82-year-old woman and containing the blaze in the room of origin.
According to Fire Department reports, luck and teamwork combined perfectly and allowed the crew to rescue Anna Limberis from her apartment.
Engine 4, manned by Lieutenant Edward Regan and firefighters David Bettencourt and new recruit Guy Cammarata were returning from Melrose where they had been covering that town's fire headquarters when they were informed of a fire at the Villa Grande apartments.
As luck would have it, the engine was travelling on Franklin Street, less than 100 yards from the scene of the fire when the call arrived. Seconds later, Regan, Bettencourt and Cammarata pulled in front of the building and noted the sire and smoke billowing from one of the apartments.
When the crew was notified that there may have been a person inside the apartment, Captain James Halpin, who had arrived with the crew from Engine 5, ordered the door to be forced open for better ventilation.
Firefighters Cammarata and James Marshall made their way into the blaze and, soon after, found Limberis conscious, but overcome by the smoke.
Cammarata was able to pick the woman up and pass her to Marshall who, in turn, handed her over to Lt. Regan and Firefighter Michael O'Sullivan. Regan and O'Sullivan carried Limberis outside where Action Ambulance paramedics were on hand to transport her to Boston Regional Medical Center. As of Tuesday, she was listed in satisfactory condition at the hospital after treatment for smoke inhalation.
"Luckily, everything worked out just perfect," Captain Frederick Petrillo said earlier this week. "(Regan, Bettencourt and Cammarata) were on Franklin Street just before Villa Grande when the call came in. It was pretty strange, actually."
According to Fire Department reports, most of the department's fire apparatus was spread throughout the town at the time of the incident due to a large number of medical and mutual aid calls. This fact normally poses a problem in incidents of local emergency. On Saturday, however, the scattering of apparatus worked in the department's favor.
"The response time was excellent," Petrillo said. "There was no delay. Everything went almost too well."
Due to the aggressive attack, the fire was contained to the bedroom, the room of origin. Captain John Scullin led firefighters in the extensive overhauling of the apartment and, with the aid of Captain Petrillo and firefighter Joe Lupo, was able to keep damage to a minimum.
After an investigation, firefighters were able to determine that smoking in bed was the cause of the blaze. It is believed that Limberis had failed to dispose of the cigarette properly before falling asleep.
According to Petrillo, she owes her life to the quick thinking and bravery of Fire Department employees.
"Their performance was just textbook when they found out someone was in the apartment," he said. "It was just amazing how well it went."
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