Press Releases Archives - Taunton Fire Department

Taunton Police and Fire Departments Announce Positive Coronavirus Cases

March 26, 2020 by Benjamin Paulin Leave a Comment

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

March 4, 2020 by Taylor O'Neil Leave a Comment

Daylight Saving Time Begins March 8 at 2 a.m.

Chief Timothy J. Bradshaw and the Taunton Fire Department would like to remind residents to test their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when setting the clocks ahead for daylight saving time.

Daylight saving begins on Sunday, March 8 at 2 a.m.

“Residents should be advised that they should be replacing their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors every ten years,” said Chief Bradshaw. “People often don’t think about their smoke detectors or carbon monoxide detectors until they’re going off. Daylight saving serves as the perfect reminder for residents to make sure they’re working properly.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), having working smoke alarms reduces the risk of dying in a fire by 50% 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 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 508-821-1453.

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Taunton Fire Department Reminds Residents of Burn Safety Tips Ahead of National Burn Awareness Week

January 30, 2020 by Matthew Reid Leave a Comment

TAUNTON — Chief Timothy J. Bradshaw would like to remind Taunton residents of some safety tips and precautions as Sunday, Feb. 2 begins National Burn Awareness Week.

Each year, the American Burn Association develops educational resources for National Burn Week, which can be found on their website. The theme for Burn Awareness Week 2020 is: Contact Burns – Hot Surfaces Damage Skin.

“Using caution around fires and hot liquids is important for people of all ages,” Chief Bradshaw said. “We encourage residents of all ages to review the following safety tips ahead of National Burn Awareness week.”

According to the Massachusetts Burn Injury Reporting System (MBIRS), there were 345 burn injuries in 2018. In addition, MBIRS reports that children under the age of five account for one-quarter of all reported burn injuries. Touching heating and cooking equipment, other hot household items (like clothes irons) and walking barefoot on hot pavement are the leading causes of contact burns to young children. Older adults are also at an increased risk of suffering contact burn injuries.

Chief Bradshaw would like to offer the following tips and information from the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services and the American Burn Association:

Prevent Burns

Hot drink safety

Hot fluids were the cause of 88% of the total burns in children under the age of five. Keep hot liquids away from babies and small children. Put drinks and soups in the center of the table away from curious fingers.

Replace tablecloths with place mats to prevent children from pulling everything on a table onto themselves.

Tap water safety

Set your hot water heater to 125˚F or less. Massachusetts law requires a temperature between 110˚F and 130˚F. It takes only one second for water at 155˚F to cause a third-degree burn.
Supervise young children in the bath and face them away from faucets. Babies and toddlers can turn on hot water when you turn your back.

Cooking safety

Children under the age of five are five times more likely to be burned by cooking than others. Keep children away from stoves, grills, campfires and fireplaces. This protects them from cooking liquids, grease and hot metal.

Use the back burners of the stove top to prevent children from reaching up and touching hot pots and pans. Turn pot and pan handles toward the back of the stove so they cannot be easily reached or tipped.

Have hot pads available when cooking. Long oven mitts are best when needing to reach in or over hot surfaces, such as in an oven or over a grill. Assume all pots and pans are hot.

Don’t wear loose clothing near fire, grills or stoves.

Other tips

Glass front fireplaces have surface temperatures of 172˚F and can cause serious contact burns. Burns can occur instantly upon contact with the glass front and the most frequent site of injury is the hand. Glass fireplace doors also can remain hot for one or more hours after use.

Be sure to turn off unattended hot appliances such as irons or hair straighteners.

Turn heating pads and blankets off before going to sleep.

Protect your feet by wearing shoes when walking on hot pavement or sand. Keep pets off hot pavement.

First Aid for Burns

Stop, drop and roll if you or your clothing are on fire.

Remove burn victims from the immediate area of danger.

Call 911 immediately if someone has suffered a burn injury.

Cool the burn area by running cool water over it. Continuously flush burns caused by chemicals.

Never put grease, butter or ointment on a burn.

Do not remove clothing from a burn.

Cover a burn with a clean sheet or towel.

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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 Leave a Comment

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 Police and Fire Departments Begin 13-Week Emergency Response Training Program Tonight

January 16, 2020 by Leah Comins Leave a Comment

TAUNTON — Police Chief Edward Walsh and Fire Chief Timothy Bradshaw report that the Taunton Police and Fire Departments have begun a 13-week emergency response training program tonight.

The multi-agency training exercise will be taking place at a location near the downtown. The training sessions will be done every Thursday night beginning at 5 p.m.

Residents may see an increased first responder presence in the area of Winthrop Street while the training is ongoing, but should know there is no cause for alarm.

During tonight’s training, a brief segment of the exercise was inadvertently broadcast over a secondary radio training channel. However, no further radio use will be done for the remainder of the training sessions.

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Safety Measures & Precautions

Daylight Saving Time Begins March 8 at 2 a.m.

Prevent Burns

First Aid for Burns

Children Pulled out of River by Good Samaritans and TPD Officers

Fire Chief Timothy J. Bradshaw

Fire Chief
Timothy J. Bradshaw