Benjamin Paulin

Bristol County Fire Chiefs Association Receives $180,000 Federal Grant to Supply Local Departments with Supplemental PPE

September 4, 2020 by Benjamin Paulin

TAUNTON — Bristol County Fire Chiefs Association President and Taunton Fire Chief Timothy Bradshaw is pleased to announce that the Association was recently awarded a $180,000 federal grant to be used for the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) for fire departments throughout Bristol County.

In June, North Attleborough Fire Chief Christopher Coleman and Mansfield Fire Chief Justin Desrosiers applied for an Assistance to Firefighters Grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on behalf of the Association.

Last week, the Association was notified that it would be receiving a grant in the amount of $181,781.85.

The grant funds will allow the Association to purchase N95 masks, gowns, disinfecting solutions, safety glasses and other PPE, which will then be distributed to fire departments throughout Bristol County on an as-needed basis.

“This grant will allow us to purchase vital personal protective equipment that can help to supplement and augment the supplies of many of our fire departments in the county,” Chief Bradshaw said. “I credit Chiefs Coleman and Desrosiers for their great work in securing this grant and we are appreciative of FEMA for its support.”

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Taunton Police and Fire Departments Announce Positive Coronavirus Cases

March 26, 2020 by Benjamin Paulin

TAUNTON — Police Chief Edward Walsh and Fire Chief Timothy Bradshaw confirmed today that the City of Taunton has been notified by Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) officials of three confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the Taunton Police Department and one positive case within the Taunton Fire Department.

Taunton Health Department officials were notified by DPH of the positive test results and have been in contact with each of the individuals. The patients have been isolated and are being supported and monitored according to public health guidelines. Under State and Federal privacy laws no further information is available about the individuals.

Close contacts (defined as someone who has spent more than 15 minutes within six feet of a positive case) have been identified, contacted by health officials, and are adhering to DPH orders for quarantine.

The quarantined close contacts will be monitored on a daily basis by Taunton Health officials while they are in quarantine to limit the risk of spread.

It should be noted that out of an abundance of caution, all members of each department that came in close contact with the individuals began to self-quarantine prior to the notification of positive test results of the confirmed cases.

The Taunton Police and Fire Departments will continue to respond to all emergencies and are taking all proper precautions when coming in contact with residents and community members.

Chief Walsh and Chief Bradshaw stress that this remains a very fluid and rapidly evolving situation and both departments are working closely with Mayor Shaunna O’Connell’s Office and Taunton Health Department officials. The Taunton Board of Health, Taunton Police Department and Taunton Fire Department will follow CDC guidelines and remain in contact with the individual throughout their illness.

“Our number one priority during this time is serving the people of our community while staying safe and remaining healthy,” said Chief Walsh. “At this time, we have three confirmed cases of COVID-19 in our ranks. All other members of the department who have been deemed a close contact have been contacted by the DPH and are following the proper guidelines. We would like to remind the community that the department remains fully operational during this time and that it is safe to call us if you are in need of assistance.”

Both departments will continue to limit access to the stations to outside visitors for general, walk-in business until further notice.

In an effort to continue practicing social distancing, all citizens are asked to make all non-emergency reports and inquiries to both departments by telephone or email, rather than in person.

The Taunton Police Department can be reached at its business line at 508-824-7522 or online at its website https://tauntonpd.com/. The Taunton Fire Department can be reached at 508-821-1452 or at its website https://tauntonfd.com/.

As always, please call 911 for any emergency.

“We are taking all of the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus and will continue to closely monitor the situation as it continues to unfold,” Chief Bradshaw said. “We wish everyone a quick recovery and hope that they’re all back to full health soon.”

Safety Measures & Precautions

In addition to limiting public access to the lobby, the Taunton Police and Fire Departments have taken the following actions:

Practicing social distancing while at work and at home
Increasing the cleaning and sanitation of common touch points and surfaces
Encouraging proper self-care and hygiene including frequently washing hands, ensuring bathrooms are stocked with hand washing materials and making cleaning products and sanitizers available
Ensuring all personnel are fit-tested for masks
Reviewing Contagious Diseases and Pandemic Planning and Response policies
Reviewing the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Modifying medical response protocol
Ensuring the department has ample supplies of PPE for medical responses

These temporary measures will be reviewed on a continuous basis. When changes are necessary, they will be communicated to the public.

For more information, visit the DPH website by clicking here and the CDC’s website by clicking here.

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Taunton Police and Fire Departments Respond After Two Children Fall Through Ice into Taunton River

January 23, 2020 by Benjamin Paulin

Children Pulled out of River by Good Samaritans and TPD Officers

TAUNTON — Police Chief Edward Walsh and Fire Chief Timothy Bradshaw report that the Taunton Police and Fire Departments responded after two children fell through the ice and into the Taunton River Thursday afternoon.

Two 14-year-old boys are expected to be okay after being rescued from the river by three Good Samaritans and four Taunton Police officers.

At approximately 2 p.m. Thursday, Taunton resident Kevin Boss, age 54, was driving in the area of County Street and Ingell Street when he noticed two boys that were in the Taunton River. One of the boys was trying to swim to shore while the other was struggling to stay afloat.

Boss pulled over and grabbed a rope from this vehicle. Simultaneously, two Taunton School Department employees, Assistant Storekeeper Nick DaCosta and Community Facilitator Lynne Farina, also saw the boys and both pulled their vehicles over to help.

A short time later, Taunton Police Officer Daniel Williams, Officer Matt Travers, Officer Brendan Canary and Captain Daniel McCabe arrived on scene.

The seven adults used the rope to safely pull the boys ashore.

The Taunton Fire Department responded quickly to the scene and transported the boys via ambulance to Morton Hospital to be evaluated. The boys are expected to be okay.

It is believed that the boys were in the water for approximately five minutes.

Police Chief Walsh would like to praise the efforts of his officers and the Good Samaritans who helped pull the boys to safety.

“This was a fantastic job by the people who stopped and our officers who helped to get these boys out of the water quickly,” Chief Walsh said. “Thankfully, it appears that the boys are going to be alright.”

Fire Chief Bradshaw echoed Chief Walsh’s sentiments and also warned that it is never safe to step on thin ice.

“Thankfully these boys weren’t seriously hurt and the people who stopped to help should be considered heroes,” Chief Bradshaw said. “Though temperatures have been cold recently, it has not been cold long enough to make it safe to walk, skate or fish on any waterway in Taunton.”

As a policy, the Taunton Fire Department does not certify whether any bodies of water are safe to use for recreational purposes. Those who do choose to go out on ice should stay away from all ice in the area of open water, flowing water or where the ice looks slushy or thin.

The Taunton Police and Fire Departments would like to recommend the following ice safety tips:

General Ice and Cold Water Safety

Never go onto the ice alone, since it’s unlikely you will be able to call for help if you fall through the ice.
Always keep your pets on a leash. If a pet falls through the ice, do not attempt a rescue it. Call 911 instead.
New ice is usually stronger than old ice. As the ice ages, the bond between the crystals decay, making it weaker, even if melting has not occurred.
Beware of ice covered with snow. Snow can insulate ice and keep it strong, but can also insulate it to keep it from freezing.
Slush is a danger sign, indicating that ice is no longer freezing from the bottom and can be weak or deteriorating.
Ice formed over flowing water (rivers or lakes containing a large number of springs) is generally 15 percent weaker.
Ice seldom freezes or thaws at a uniform rate. It can be one foot thick in one spot and be only one inch thick 10 feet away.

What To Do If Someone Falls Through Ice

Reach-Throw-Go: If someone falls through the ice and you are unable to reach that person from shore, throw them something (rope, jumper cables, tree branch, etc.) If this does not work, go for help before you also become a victim. Get medical assistance for the victim immediately.
If you fall in, try not to panic. Turn toward the direction you came from. Place your hands and arms on the unbroken surface, working forward by kicking your feet. Once out, remain lying on the ice (do not stand) and roll away from the hole. Crawl back to your tracks, keeping your weight distributed until you return to solid ice.

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Taunton Fire Department Offers Holiday Cooking Safety Tips

November 27, 2019 by Benjamin Paulin

TAUNTON — With Thanksgiving tomorrow, Chief Timothy Bradshaw and the Taunton Fire Department would like to remind residents of several important cooking safety tips.

The National Fire Protection Association reports that Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires followed by Christmas Day, Christmas Eve and the day before Thanksgiving.

The NFPA found that unattended cooking was the leading contributing factor in cooking fires and fire deaths. Cooking equipment was involved in almost half of all reported home fires and home fire injuries, and it is the second leading cause of home fire deaths.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, fire departments in the United States are dispatched to approximately 166,100 fires annually involving cooking equipment, such as a stove or microwave.

“The Taunton Fire Department wishes everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving,” Chief Bradshaw said. “Please make sure to keep any flammable objects away from your stove top, like wrappers, pot holders and other items to prevent fires.”

To avoid tragedy this season, the Taunton Fire Department recommends residents follow several safety tips outlined by the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services:

Never leave food, grease or oils cooking on the stove top without supervision.
In the event of a grease fire, smother flames with a lid then turn off the heat. Putting baking soda over the fire will also work.
Do not move a burning pan because it can cause the fire to spread.
Do not throw water or use a fire extinguisher on a grease fire, as water will spread the fire and the extinguisher could splash flaming grease.
Do not wear loose or long sleeves when cooking, as it can catch fire.
Do not store or use flammable objects, such as pot holders, towels, paper or plastic bags, near heating elements.
If a fire starts in an oven or microwave, close the door, turn the appliance off and immediately call the fire department.
Do not put metal inside a microwave.
Unplug appliances such as toasters and coffee makers when you are not using them.
Do not store items in an oven.
Stop, drop and roll if your clothing catches fire. Run burns under cool water and call 9-1-1 for help.
Keep children and pets three feet away from the stove.
Make sure all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are working prior to the holiday.

Additionally, the NFPA discourages the use of turkey fryers, as the amount and high temperature of the oil used can cause serious burns and injuries, and result in the destruction of property.

Residents who would like more information on holiday cooking safety should contact the Taunton Fire Department at 508-821-1452.

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Taunton Fire Reminds Residents to Check Smoke and CO Detectors During Daylight Saving Time

November 1, 2019 by Benjamin Paulin

Daylight Saving Time Ends Nov. 3 at 2 a.m.

TAUNTON – Chief Timothy Bradshaw and the Taunton Fire Department encourages residents to test their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when setting their clocks back for daylight saving time.

Daylight saving ends Sunday, Nov. 3 at 2 a.m.

“Testing and changing batteries in smoke and carbon detectors is a simple, and life-saving habit that can help prevent fires from happening,” said Chief Bradshaw. “If your detectors are not working, or if you don’t have detectors at all, please call the Taunton Fire Department for assistance.”

According to the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), working smoke alarms decrease the risk of dying in home fires by nearly half. Additionally, in many reported home fires in which smoke alarms were present but did not operate, the batteries had been removed or the alarm was disconnected due to dead battery alerts or nuisance alarms.

The Taunton Fire Department also asks that all business owners not only change their clocks, but also change the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and replace the batteries on wall mounted emergency lights and exit signs. All businesses should have emergency backup lighting as a safety feature to provide temporary lighting in case of power failure.

In order to keep your family and home safe, Taunton Fire recommends that residents follow safety tips outlined by IAFF:

Install smoke alarms inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. On levels without bedrooms, install alarms in a central location or near the stairway to the upper level. Smoke alarms should be installed at least 10 feet from cooking appliances to minimize false alarms.
CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home and in other locations where required by applicable laws, codes or standards.
For the best protection, interconnect all smoke alarms. When one smoke alarm sounds they all sound. CO alarms can also be interconnected.
Test smoke and CO alarms at least once per month using the test button.
Smoke alarms with non-replaceable 10-year batteries are designed to remain effective for up to 10 years. If the alarm chirps warning that the battery is low, replace the entire smoke alarm right away.
Smoke and CO alarms with replaceable batteries need a new battery at least once per year. Replace batteries during daylight saving time or if the alarm chirps warning that the battery is low.
When replacing a battery, follow the manufacturer’s list of usable batteries on the back of the alarm. Manufacturer instructions are specific to the batteries that must be used and the alarm may not work properly if a different kind of battery is used.
Replace all smoke alarms according to the date on the back or when they reach 10 years old. Replace CO detectors according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Make sure everyone in the home understands the sound of a smoke and CO alarm and knows how to respond.

For more information on smoke detector and CO alarm safety, contact the Taunton Fire Department at 508-821-1452.

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Safety Measures & Precautions

Children Pulled out of River by Good Samaritans and TPD Officers

Daylight Saving Time Ends Nov. 3 at 2 a.m.

Fire Chief Steven P. Lavigne

Fire Chief
Steven P. Lavigne