Fire Department saves home with good timing and new technology
Published on February 9th, 2000
STONEHAM, MA - The Stoneham Fire Department prevented a tragedy last Wednesday, stopping a fire in the walls of 1157 Franklin St. before the blaze could take over the entire home.
Justin Pendergrast had bought the single family home only five days earlier.
"Another ten minutes and they could have lost the house," said Fire Captain Douglas Griffin.
Pendergrast's fiancee entered the home in the early evening of Feb. 2 and discovered that the power was out. She called the Fire Department, and Group 4 with Firefighter John Gallo driving and Firefighter Justin Petrillo aboard Engine 4 responded with Griffin to investigate.
Griffin went into the basement to check the circuit breakers and immediately smelled smoke. He then saw smoke behind the electrical panel. At this time, 6:54 p.m., Griffin called in the fire. Stoneham's Ladder 1 and Engine 2 responded as well as a unit from Melrose Fire.
The cause of the fire was an electrical short in the wiring in the walls, according to Griffin.
Using axes, a 1 3/4 inch hose and the department's new thermal imager, Stoneham firefighters found the fire, opened up walls on the first floor, and stopped the fire from spreading any further.
"It was a good stop," Griffin said. He assessed the damage at $3,000 to $4,000.
Firefighters left the scene at 7:53 p.m.
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