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Taunton Fire Department Warns Residents About Unsafe Ice Conditions

January 15, 2019 by Benjamin Paulin Leave a Comment

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

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019

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

Taunton Fire Department Warns Residents About Unsafe Ice Conditions

TAUNTON — With multiple ice rescues in the state yesterday, Chief Timothy Bradshaw would like to warn Taunton residents to avoid unsafe ice conditions and remind people that ice rinks are the only places considered safe to skate.

Though temperatures have been on the colder side recently, Taunton officials warn that at this time it has not been cold enough for long enough to make it safe to walk, skate or fish on the ice in 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.

Aleixo Arena, 150 Honorable Gordon M. Owen Riverway, Taunton, offers open skating to the public at certain times. Their schedule can be found on their website here.

Chief Bradshaw and the Taunton Fire Department offer the following general ice safety guidelines to all residents:

Thin Ice:

The Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs says ice should always be measured in multiple places before testing it with your weight. Ice 2 inches thick or less should be avoided completely.

Ice with a depth of 4 inches or more is considered safe for ice fishing or other activities on foot. Five inches of ice is recommended for snowmobiles or ATVs. Eight to 12 inches is necessary for a small car, while 12 to 15 inches of ice is necessary for trucks.

General Ice and Cold Water Safety:

  • Never go onto ice alone. A friend may be able to rescue you or go 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. 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 weaker than pond ice.
  • Ice seldom freezes or thaws at a uniform rate. It can be one foot thick in one spot and be only 1 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, try to throw them something (rope, jumper cables, tree branch, etc.) If this does not work, call 911 and get away from the ice 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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Filed Under: Press Releases Tagged With: ice safety, Taunton, Taunton Fire Department

Taunton Fire Department Responds to School Bus Crash on Rt. 24 in Berkley

December 1, 2018 by John Guilfoil Leave a Comment

BERLKEY — Taunton Fire Chief Timothy Bradshaw reports that multiple Taunton Fire Department units responded Saturday evening to Rt. 24 southbound in the Town of Berkley after a school bus crashed.

Shortly after 10 p.m., police, fire and EMS units from multiple jurisdictions responded to a location after exit 11 but before exit 10 after dispatch centers received multiple 911 calls that an occupied school bus had crashed.

Approximately 20 passengers were on the bus at the time of the crash, ranging in age from very young children to elderly adults.

A mass casualty incident was declared, bringing in mutual aid in the form of fire trucks and ambulances from approximately a dozen cities and towns.

Occupants were transported to Rhode Island Hospital, Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Charlton Memorial Hospital and Morton Hospital.

The severity of injuries varied, but injuries were not initially believed to be life-threatening.

Rt. 24 was shut down for more than an hour on Saturday evening with vehicles being detoured off the highway at exit 11. One exit was re-opened southbound shortly after 11 p.m.

The incident occurred geographically in Berkley, and the incident will be under investigation by the Massachusetts State Police.

Filed Under: Press Releases

Wrong-Way Driver Killed in Serious Crash on 495

November 22, 2018 by John Guilfoil Leave a Comment

TAUNTON – Chief Timothy Bradshaw reports that the Taunton Fire Department responded late Wednesday evening to a serious motor vehicle crash that killed one driver and left six other people injured.

Taunton firefighters responded at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday to I-495 near exit 9, about 100 feet from the Norton town line. Upon arrival, crews had one car fully engulfed in flames and two other vehicles damaged.

A preliminary investigation indicates that the driver of a Toyota car, an approximately 84-year-old male from Foxborough was driving the wrong way, headed southbound on I-495 northbound when his vehicle collided with two other vehicles. One of the vehicles that was struck caught fire. The wrong-day driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the Toyota was the sole occupant of that vehicle. The two other drivers and four passengers in the two struck vehicles were transported to area hospitals by ambulances with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.

The Massachusetts State Police, Norton Fire Department, MassDOT and Taunton Police also responded. Norton Fire, Easton Fire, and Brewster Ambulance Service all sent ambulances to the scene as well.

I-495 Northbound was shut down entirely between exits 9 and 10 for several hours, but the roadway has since reopened. 

The crash is under investigation by the Massachusetts State Police.

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Filed Under: Press Releases

Taunton Fire Department Swears In Five New Firefighters

July 25, 2018 by Benjamin Paulin Leave a Comment

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

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, July 25, 2018

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

Taunton Fire Department Swears In Five New Firefighters

Taunton FD Swearing In1
Taunton FD Swearing In2

TAUNTON — Chief Timothy Bradshaw is pleased to announce that five new Taunton firefighters were sworn in during a ceremony at City Hall last night.

Firefighters David Costa, Marc Leandro, Matthew Pierce, Michael Holmes and Steven Gomes, all of Taunton, were sworn in by Assistant City Clerk Jennifer Ledger.

“These new hires now bring the Taunton Fire Department up to 127 members, which is the staffing level agreed upon in the collective bargaining agreement between the firefighter’s union and the city,” Chief Bradshaw said. “I look forward to our newest members beginning their careers here and I wish them all the best.”

The new members of the department were hired to replace firefighters who had retired earlier this year.

The hires help to maintain compliance with a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant the city received last year that awarded Taunton $1.35 million in funding for salaries and benefits for firefighters.

Firefighter Costa, age 34, is a former Marine Corps sergeant who has an associate’s degree in fire science from Bristol Community College.

Firefighter Pierce, age 25, has been a call firefighter in the town of Berkley since 2013.  He is Firefighter I/II certified by the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services and is also a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).

Firefighter Holmes, age 35, has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a minor in psychology.  He been employed by the Massachusetts Department of Corrections since 2005. He also has a brother who is currently a patrolman for the Taunton Police Department.

Firefighter Gomes, age 32, is a graduate of Taunton High School and formerly worked as a security guard at the school.

Firefighter Leandro, age 29, is a lifelong Taunton resident, who was a former captain of the Taunton High School baseball team.

The firefighters will be attending the Massachusetts Fire Academy in the coming months.

 

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Filed Under: Press Releases Tagged With: Chief Timothy Bradshaw, swearing in, Taunton, Taunton Fire Department

Taunton Fire Department Extinguishes Early Morning House Fire

July 3, 2018 by Jordan Mayblum Leave a Comment

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

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, July 3, 2018

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

Taunton Fire Department Extinguishes Early Morning House Fire

The Taunton Fire Department extinguished a fire at a home on Belmont Street early Tuesday morning, July 3. (Photo courtesy Taunton Fire Department)
Firefighters cut through a wall in the home to extinguish a fire that was caused by electrical wiring. (Courtesy Photo)

TAUNTON — Chief Timothy Bradshaw reports that the Taunton Fire Department extinguished a house fire early this morning.

At approximately 12:25 a.m., the Taunton Fire Department received a call about a structure fire at 135 Belmont St.

When firefighters arrived, the only occupant of the house, an elderly woman, was standing outside. The woman was awoken by the sound of a smoke detector and safely got out of the single-family house and called 911. There were no injuries.

The fire was quickly extinguished and was contained to the home’s living room. The house sustained fire damage to a wall and smoke damage throughout. 

The initial investigation indicates that the fire originated in the home’s electrical wiring. The resident of the home will be staying with a family member who lives in the city.

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Filed Under: Press Releases, Taunton FD News Tagged With: Taunton, Taunton Fire Department

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Recent Posts

  • Taunton Police and Fire Departments Offer Driving Safety Tips Ahead of Tuesday’s Snowstorm
  • Taunton Fire Department Warns Residents About Unsafe Ice Conditions
  • Taunton Fire Department Responds to School Bus Crash on Rt. 24 in Berkley
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