Retired Fire Chief writes book about career
Published on October 16th, 2002
STONEHAM, MA - From the flame still burning in his heart and the red hot memories of being a Stoneham firefighter for 40-years, Ray Sorensen has put pen in hand and recorded the highlights of fighting fires and helping fellow residents since 1947.
Last week Sorensen, former Stoneham fire chief for 19 years, was invited to be the featured speaker at the Stoneham Historical Society’s October meeting. Sorensen discussed the history of the department, and some of the more legendary fires that burned in Stoneham’s past.
Sorensen also discussed his book, which was on sale at last week’s meeting, and he signed many copies for those in attendance. According to the Historical Society’s Program Coordinator, Betty Whelan, the hall had a standing room only crowd of approximately 50 people.
“He was very interesting,” said Whelan. “Full of stories.
“Strike a Third: Big things can happen in small places,” by Sorensen chronicles Stoneham fires and the history of your local firefighter. Sorensen’s stories of how the equipment, town, and firefighters evolved over the years brought a lengthy question and answer period.
Stoneham residents and curious readers alike should hurry to pick up Sorensen’s book, as the first printing of 500 copies is soon to be history. There are approximately 100 books, which costs $11.95, remaining on store shelves, according to Sorensen. “Strike a third: Big things can happen in small places,” was self published by Sorensen through World Press, of Ithaca, New York and edited by his talented daughter, Marsha Strykowski. Don’t wait for the shelves to be replenished with this book, because he has no plans for a second printing.
“I won’t be printing more,” said Sorensen. “I don’t think I am going to set the world on fire,” he said about the possibility of selling more books.
Sorensen discovered his fondness for writing while serving as Treasurer of Massachusetts Fire Chief’s for five years. During those years, Sorensen wrote nearly 60 articles, which stimulated his writing prowess and inspired him to chronicle his experiences.
Sorensen’s book can be purchased locally at Spartan Hardware, Hallmark Card Store and Redstone Liquors. It took Sorensen a year-and-a-half to finish the 15 chapter project and collect 35 photographs depicting the life of a Stoneham firefighter from post-WWII to the Reagan era.
Sorensen wrote about his plight as a firefighter starting long before September 11, 2001, believing the public would be interested in local history.
Also chronicled in Sorensen’s book is a fire ranked one of the worst fires he ever witnessed. On March 1, 1976 the Stoneham Laundry fire on Gould Street temporarily trapped three Stoneham firefighters inside the inferno. Sorensen recalls the three men forging into the warehouse building with their fire hose where they quickly ran out of air.
As they started to retreat, an explosion trapped them in the burning structure.
“It seemed like 30 seconds and they ran out of air,” said Sorensen who remembers how poorly the building was constructed.
With three of their fellow firefighters trapped in the fire, a neighbor told Sorensen there were an unknown number of gas tanks in the building. While assessing the situation, another neighbor rushed over to tell Sorensen that his house was now smoking.
A short time later, two of the trapped firefighters tapped on a window and were helped out of the fire by supporting firemen from Winchester. The third firefighter, William McLaughlin, followed the fire hose towards the original entrance. McLaughlin quickly found the end of the hose, which was burned off prior to the entrance, but led the entombed firefighter close enough to an opening leading him out of the fiery prison. McLaughlin received third-degree burns from the ordeal.
With a neighbors house smoldering, three firefighters just escaping an inferno, and gas cans exploding inside the building, Sorensen thought things couldn’t get worse.
The explosion that trapped the firemen also sent debris hurling through the air. A projectile from that debris ended firefighter Frank Hudson’s career when it severed his arm.
This fire and its devastating effect on Stoneham and their firefighters is detailed in one chapter, “A Life is changed”, in Sorensen’s book. Its detail, horrific and emotionally charged, is typical of the entire book.
Of the best experiences as a firefighter, Sorensen recalls no flames, water or sirens. He thinks of all the times he was able to help fire victims, in conjunction with the fire department, who have just been devastated by a house fire.
“Providing the resources needed just to get through the initial disaster was very important to me,” said Sorensen
Sorensen has received feedback from throughout the United States from former Stoneham residents who have read his book, and sent him a letters of appreciation for his efforts.
“Hearing from former residents, who have read my book and said it rekindled old memories in them, is better than selling the book,” said Sorensen.
Support of your local firemen or of Stoneham history are good reasons to read Sorensen’s book. However with chapter titles like, “Lucky Brown Suit”, “32,000 Feet of Hose”, and “Time to Go”, the story itself is worth the time to read.
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