Taunton Fire Department

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Taunton Police Arrest and Charge Man with Intentionally Setting Fires Last Week

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For Immediate Release

Monday, June 10, 2019

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net

Taunton Police Arrest and Charge Man with Intentionally Setting Fires Last Week

TAUNTON — Police Chief Edward Walsh reports that the Taunton Police Department has today arrested and charged a man with intentionally setting five fires in the city last week, within the span of approximately two hours.

DEREK LINDSAY, AGE 46, OF TAUNTON was charged with:

  • Arson of a Dwelling (Three Counts)
  • Burning Personal Property (Two Counts)
  • Breaking and Entering a Building in the Nighttime for a Felony

LINDSAY was arraigned today at Taunton District Court.

The fires were set between approximately 11:20 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, and 1:30 a.m. Thursday, June 6. The locations of the fires were:

  • Silver City Gas, 69 Weir St.
  • Art’s International Bakery II, 210 Weir St.
  • 220 Weir St.
  • 228 Weir St.
  • 29 Leonard Court

All five fires were able to be quickly knocked down and extinguished by the Taunton Fire Department. Due to fire damage to the electrical system at 210 Weir St., four residents living in two apartments above the bakery were temporarily displaced. No injuries were reported.

Through the subsequent investigation by Taunton Police detectives, it was determined that LINDSAY allegedly lit each of the five fires. An arrest warrant was obtained by Taunton Police detectives this morning and at approximately 1 p.m. today, LINDSAY was located and placed under arrest near the corner of County and Hart Streets.

“This was great work by our Detective Unit to develop this individual as our suspect and place him under arrest, all within days of the fires,” Chief Walsh said. “I want to commend our detectives for quickly solving this case and I would also like to thank the many members of our business community who willingly shared security surveillance footage that played a major part in our investigation.”

The Taunton Fire Department and State Fire Marshal’s Office assisted in the investigation. The incidents remain under active investigation by the Taunton Police Department.

These are allegations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty.

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Taunton Fire and Police Departments Investigating String of Overnight Suspicious Fires

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For Immediate Release

Thursday, June 6, 2019

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net

Taunton Fire and Police Departments Investigating String of Overnight Suspicious Fires

TAUNTON — Fire Chief Timothy Bradshaw and Police Chief Edward Walsh report that the Taunton Fire and Police Departments and the State Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating five fires that may have been intentionally set within the span of approximately two hours overnight.

The incidents remain under active investigation and police are seeking to identify the person or people responsible. Anyone with information about the fires or who may have noticed any suspicious activity in the area of Weir Street and Leonard Court is asked to call the Taunton Police Department at 508-824-7522 or the Arson Hotline at 1-800-682-9229.

The Property and Casualty Insurance Companies of MA and RI, through their Arson Watch Reward Program, are offering a reward of up to $5,000 for anyone who can help to solve the case or identify the person or people responsible for the fires.

No injuries have been reported in the fires.

The fires were set between approximately 11:20 p.m. Wednesday and 1:30 a.m. Thursday.

The locations of the fires were:

  • Silver City Gas, 69 Weir St.
  • Art’s International Bakery II, 210 Weir St.
  • 220 Weir St.
  • 228 Weir St.
  • 29 Leonard Court

All five fires were able to be quickly knocked down and extinguished by the Taunton Fire Department.

Due to fire damage to the electrical system at 210 Weir St., four residents living in two apartments above the bakery have been displaced.

Taunton Police briefly detained a person of interest for questioning early Thursday morning and the person was subsequently released.

To avoid being a potential target of arson, Chief Bradshaw suggests that residents lock the doors and windows to their homes, use motion-sensor lights around the perimeter of your home and business and remove anything an arsonist could use as fuel for a fire.

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Taunton Police and Fire Departments Offer Helpful Guidelines During National 911 Education Month

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Taunton Fire Department
Chief Timothy J. Bradshaw
50 School St.
Taunton, MA 02780
Taunton Police Department
Chief Edward James Walsh
23 Summer St.
Taunton, MA 02780

For Immediate Release

Friday, April 12, 2019

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net

Taunton Police and Fire Departments Offer Helpful Guidelines During National 911 Education Month

TAUNTON — April is National 911 Education Month. Taunton Police Chief Edward Walsh and Fire Chief Timothy Bradshaw would like to ensure residents are prepared and able to access help during emergencies.

Around 240 million 911 calls are made in the U.S. each year. Public safety agencies around the country use 911 Education Month to conduct outreach to educate community members on 911 resources and best practices.

To ensure your family knows how to get help in an emergency, Chief Bradshaw and Chief Walsh recommend following safety tips provided by the National Association of State 911 Administrators (NASNA):

Call If You Can, Text If You Can’t

Text-to-9-1-1 service is available in an increasing number of communities around the country, including Taunton. The service benefits individuals (or persons) who are deaf, hard of hearing or in a situation where they cannot speak and make a voice call. However, a traditional voice call, if possible, is still the best way to reach emergency services.

Know Your Location

Wireless calls to 911 provide location information, but 911 call takers may need more specific information. Be prepared to provide detailed information on where you are so that help can get to you as quickly as possible.

Stay Calm and Don’t Hang Up

Until you are instructed to do otherwise, stay on the line so you can provide any necessary information to the 9-1-1 call taker. Even if you accidentally call 9-1-1, don’t hang up. Inform the call taker that you dialed accidentally and that there is no emergency.

NASNA works to save lives and improve emergency response by supporting a national 9-1-1 education and awareness effort to ensure the appropriate and responsible use of 9-1-1 resources. Additional 9-1-1 education materials are available at www.know911.org.

ABOUT NATIONAL 911 MONTH

In 2008, the United States Congress recognized April as National 9-1-1 Education Month, supporting the efforts of the National 9-1-1 Education Coalition to provide resources and materials to support public education about the optimal use of 911 services nationwide. (Know911.org)

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Source: nena.org

Taunton Fire and Police Departments Respond to Helicopter Crash

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Taunton Fire Department
Chief Timothy J. Bradshaw
50 School St.
Taunton, MA 02780
Taunton Police Department
Chief Edward James Walsh
23 Summer St.
Taunton, MA 02780

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net

Taunton Fire and Police Departments Respond to Helicopter Crash

Pilot and Passenger Uninjured

TAUNTON — Fire Chief Timothy Bradshaw and Police Chief Edward Walsh report that the Taunton Fire and Police Departments responded to a helicopter crash at the Taunton Municipal Airport Tuesday afternoon.

The pilot and passenger, both adult men, were uninjured in the crash.

At approximately 12:40 p.m., first responders went to the airport for a report of a helicopter that had crashed upon takeoff.

Upon arrival, the pilot and passenger had safely gotten themselves out of the helicopter, which came to rest on its side.

The initial investigation indicates that the pilot was taking off, with the helicopter about a foot off the ground, when a strong gust of wind caused the helicopter to tilt and fall onto its side.

The helicopter cab and rotor blade sustained significant damage.

The pilot was able to shut the aircraft down and both men were able to safely get out.

Medics from the Taunton Fire Department and Brewster Ambulance checked both men and they were not injured.

The helicopter had come from New Bedford and landed in Taunton as part of a training program. The instructor was piloting the helicopter when they attempted to take off to go back to New Bedford when the crash occurred.

The Federal Aviation Administration has been called to respond to the scene to investigate.

A small fuel spill from the helicopter has been contained and firefighters were able to shut the fuel off, preventing further spillage.

The Taunton Municipal Airport houses approximately 100 aircraft and sees a couple dozen aircraft come and go each day.

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Taunton Fire Department Encourages Residents to Test Smoke and CO Alarms During Daylight Saving

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Taunton Fire Department
Timothy J. Bradshaw, Fire Chief
50 School St.
Taunton, MA 02780

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net

Taunton Fire Department Encourages Residents to Test Smoke and CO Alarms During Daylight Saving

Daylight Saving Time Begins Sunday at 2 a.m.

TAUNTON — Chief Timothy J. Bradshaw and the Taunton Fire Department wish to remind residents to test their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors this weekend as daylight saving time approaches.

Daylight saving time begins Sunday, March 10 at 2 a.m.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), having working smoke alarms reduces the risk of dying in a fire by 50 percent and, on average, three out of every five fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

The Taunton Fire Department asks that all business owners not only change the batteries in their clocks, smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, but also 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 continue to keep your home safe and prevent fires, Chief Bradshaw recommends that residents follow safety tips outlined by NFPA:

  • Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month using the test button. Replace alarms immediately if they don’t respond properly when tested.
  • Replace batteries in smoke and CO alarms when you change your clocks.
  • Replace all smoke alarms when they reach 10 years old. Replace CO detectors according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each sleeping area, on every level of the home, and in other locations where required by applicable laws, codes or standards. For the best protection, interconnect all CO alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
  • If the CO alarm sounds, immediately move to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door. Make sure everyone inside the home is accounted for. Call for help from a fresh air location and stay in that spot until emergency personnel arrive.
  • Develop and practice a home escape plan with all members of the household.

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

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Contact Us

FOR EMERGENCIES
DIAL 911

Non-emergency phone number:
(508) 824-4024
Fire Prevention: (508) 821-1453
Main Office: (508) 821-1452

tauntonfire
tauntonfire

Fire Chief
Timothy J. Bradshaw

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Mailing address:
Central Fire Station
50 School Street
Taunton, MA 02780