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

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

For Immediate Release

Friday, Nov. 2, 2018

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

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

TAUNTON – As community members prepare to turn their clocks back this weekend, Chief Timothy Bradshaw and the Taunton Fire Department would like to remind residents to test their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Daylight saving time ends Sunday, Nov. 4 at 2 a.m.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that 46 percent of smoke alarms that failed to operate had missing, disconnected or dead batteries and roughly three out of every five fire deaths occur in homes with 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 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.

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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Taunton Police and Fire Departments Raise Over $20,000 in Charity Hockey Game

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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

Saturday, May 19, 2018

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

Taunton Police and Fire Departments Raise Over $20,000 in Charity Hockey Game

Proceeds of Fundraising Game To Benefit Families of City Police Officer and Firefighter

TAUNTON — Police Chief Edward Walsh and Fire Chief Timothy Bradshaw are pleased to announce that a charity hockey game to benefit the families of a Taunton Police officer and Taunton firefighter raised over $20,000 last weekend.

Members of the Taunton Police Department and Taunton Fire Department squared off against each other on Saturday, May 12, to raise money for two good causes and for bragging rights in the city.

Half of the proceeds of the event will benefit Taunton Police Officer Jeremy Derosier’s two young children, who were both recently diagnosed with mitochondrial diseases. Baby Bryce Derosier is 14-months-old and his sister, Aubriella, turns 3 next month.

The other half of the money raised will benefit Amy Masse, who was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 colon and liver cancer. Masse is a second grade teacher at Elizabeth Pole Elementary School and the sister of Taunton Firefighter AJ Masse. Her boyfriend is Taunton Police Officer Joseph Balmain.

Nearly 500 people attended the game at Aleixo Arena in Taunton.

The Taunton Fire team won the game 8-3, with the assistance of Vancouver Canucks forward Adam Gaudette. Gaudette’s father is a veteran Taunton firefighter. The hockey star donated one of his game worn jerseys as a raffle prize and played in the game as a surprise to support the fundraising effort.

Following the hockey game, a reception was held at the Portuguese-American Civic Club in the city. Barbecue was served and over 50 prize baskets and silent auction items were raffled off. The raffle items included a signed basketball from the Celtics, a signed jersey from the Bruins and Gaudette’s Canucks jersey.

“The whole day turned out to be really great and we raised a lot of money for these two amazing families,” said Officer Evan LaVigne, who helped to organize the event. “Thank you to everyone who came out to show their support.”

So far, the Taunton community has come together to help both families even beyond the hockey game. A GoFundMe page for Bryce’s care has raised over $31,000 in two months. A similar page for Amy’s treatment has raised over $12,500 in one month.

“This community really rallies for each other when someone is in need,” said Taunton Firefighters Association Local 1391 President Jason Lawrence. “Just being able to see the two families smiling and enjoying themselves made it all worth it.”

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Taunton Police and Fire Departments to Compete in Charity Hockey Game

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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

Monday, May 7, 2018

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

Taunton Police and Fire Departments to Compete in Charity Hockey Game

Proceeds of Fundraising Game To Benefit Families of City Police Officer and Firefighter

TAUNTON — Police Chief Edward Walsh and Fire Chief Timothy Bradshaw are pleased to announce that a charity hockey game to benefit the families of a Taunton Police officer and Taunton firefighter will be held this weekend.

WHEN

Saturday, May 12

  • Hockey Game – 2-4 p.m.
  • Reception/BBQ/Raffle – 5-9 p.m.

WHERE

  • Aleixo Arena, 150 Honorable Gordon M. Owen Riverway, Taunton
  • Portuguese-American Civic Club, 175 School St, Taunton

WHO

Members of the Taunton Police Department and Taunton Fire Department will square off against each other to raise money for two good causes and for bragging rights in the city.

Half of the proceeds of the event will go to benefit Taunton Police Officer Jeremy Derosier’s two young children, who were both recently diagnosed with mitochondrial diseases. Baby Bryce Derosier is 14-months-old and his sister Aubriella turns 3 next month.

The other half of the money raised will go to Amy Masse, who was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 colon and liver cancer. Masse is second grade teacher at Elizabeth Pole Elementary School and the sister of Taunton Firefighter AJ Masse. Her boyfriend is Taunton Police Officer Joseph Balmain.

WHAT

In 2015, Taunton Police Officer Evan Lavigne was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Officer Lavigne’s father is a captain for the Taunton Fire Department.

After Officer Lavigne’s diagnosis, a few of his fellow officers approached him with the idea of organizing a hockey game between the police and fire departments to help raise money for his treatments. The game was a huge success and raised over $13,000.

Officer Lavigne is now cancer-free and when he heard about the struggles that the Derosier and Masse families were going through, he decided that it was his turn to return the favor.

He has been working closely with members of both the police and fire departments to help organize the event.

“This is just one more thing that we can do for these guys,” Officer Lavigne said. “Both families have been going through a really tough time. This will be a day for everyone to come together and help to distract them from their current norm and have some fun. It was something that I really appreciated when I was going through my treatment and I hope it’s uplifting to them as well.”

Tickets for the game are $20 each and can be purchased at the police and fire stations in the city. The family friendly event is open to adults and children of all ages.

The reception at the Portuguese-American Civic Club will include a barbecue where attendees can grill their own meat over open fire pits. The meat is included in the price of the ticket and will be provided at the club.

During the reception there will be over 30 prize baskets raffled off and silent auction items including a signed basketball from the Celtics, a signed jersey from the Bruins, a signed Vancouver Canucks jersey from Braintree’s own Adam Gaudette and other items.

Those who are unable to purchase tickets can still attend the game and reception, where they can buy raffle tickets and bid on the silent auctions. However, they will not be provided with food to cook at the reception.

So far, hundreds of tickets have been sold and many are still available to be purchased.

“This is something that we want to turn into an annual event,” said Taunton Firefighters Association Local 1391 President Jason Lawrence. “Being able to help these guys in their time of need is what it’s all about.”

So far, the Taunton community has already come together to help both families. A GoFundMe page for Bryce’s care has raised over $27,000 in two months. A similar page for Amy’s treatment has raised over $12,500 in one month.

“While we’ll be playing against each other on the ice, for most of our calls for service we are there together,” Lavigne said of the police and fire departments. “When it comes down to it, we’re all in it together to make sure that we all go home. So far it’s been a tremendous outpouring from both sides. Everybody has been so amazing in their support of these families.”

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Taunton Police and Fire Departments Advise Residents Ahead of Fourth Nor’easter This Month

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Tuesday, March 20, 2018

For Immediate Release

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

Taunton Police and Fire Departments Advise Residents Ahead of Fourth Nor’easter This Month

TAUNTON — Police Chief Edward Walsh and Fire Chief Timothy Bradshaw would like to advise Taunton residents about another nor’easter coming to the region on Wednesday.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for Bristol, Plymouth and Norfolk counties, which will be in effect from  8 a.m. Wednesday until 8 a.m. Thursday. Snowfall is expected to begin after 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Taunton could see between 7 to 13 inches of accumulation, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures during the storm are expected to be between 40 and 31 degrees. Wind gusts could reach speeds of up to 37 mph.

Travel is expected to be very difficult at times with significant reductions in visibility. As with the other recent storms, town officials are asking residents to stay off the roads during the storm.

BEFORE THE STORM

  • Residents should be prepared for power outages and stock up on batteries for flashlights or battery powered lanterns. If using candles, there should be a 3 foot ring of safety and be sure to keep them away from anything flammable or combustible.
  • Keep cell phones, laptops and tablets charged as much as possible. Consider a external battery for your devices.
  • Neighbors should talk with one another and set up plans to assist those who may be at risk and/or in need of help.

DURING THE STORM

  • Stay off the roads and stay indoors, if possible. Give plow and sand/salt trucks the space they need to operate.
  • If your power goes out during the storm, contact the Taunton Municipal Lighting Plant at 508-824-3111 to report an outage.
  • To report a gas leak, call 911. Residents can also contact Columbia Gas at 1-800-525-8222.
  • If you have an emergency, call 911.
  • Follow the Taunton Fire Department on its Facebook page and Twitter account for updates during and after the storm. You can also follow the Taunton Police Department on Facebook  and Twitter  for updates. The police and fire stations will be open throughout the storm. If you have an emergency, call 911.

AFTER THE STORM

  • Do not go near or drive over any downed power lines.
  • Clear snow from any gas vents attached to your home.
  • Assist the fire department by shoveling out any hydrants near your home.
  • Check your property for any trees that could be in danger of falling near your home or vehicles.
  • As the snow begins to melt, clear any debris from storm drains near your home to allow water to drain.
  • Do not pump water from sump pumps into the road. The water can freeze and cause hazardous conditions if the temperature dips.

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*Night Update* Bristol, Plymouth, Norfolk County Police and Fire Chiefs Provide Update on Today’s Nor’easter

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For Immediate Release
Tuesday, March 13, 2018

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

*Joint Release*

Bristol, Plymouth Norfolk County Police and Fire Chiefs Provide Update on Today’s Nor’easter

Police and fire chiefs from Attleboro, Bridgewater, Canton, East Bridgewater, Easton, Holbrook, Randolph, Raynham, Taunton and Whitman would like to provide residents with an evening update on where the communities stand regarding today’s storm since the update from this afternoon.

Please note that some communities have opened up warming shelters.

Snow has steadily been falling throughout the day and the blizzard warning issued by the National Weather Service was scheduled to end at 8 p.m. Snowfall is expected to be done in the region between midnight and 2 a.m. Wednesday.

As of 8 p.m., there were about 191,000 residents in the state without power, according to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) outage map.

Now that it is dark, residents are still urged to stay off the roads as some areas are experiencing near-whiteout conditions.

Anyone who has an emergency should call 911.

ATTLEBORO

Fire Chief Scott. T. Lachance reports that there were about 2,000 residents without power as of 7 p.m. National Grid crews were in the city working to restore electricity.

A warming station will is open at the South Attleboro fire station, 1476 South Ave. Use the shelter to charge cell phones and electronic devices and to stay warm if you are without power. Anyone with questions about the warming station can call the Attleboro Fire Department at 508-222-2325.

While there have been multiple trees and wires down, almost all roads in Attleboro are currently open.

BRIDGEWATER

Police Chief Christopher Delmonte reports that the police department responded to approximately 50 storm-related calls beginning at 8 a.m. today. The fire department also responded to a similar number of calls.

As of 7:30 p.m. there were 687 residents without power. At the height of the storm the town had over 3,000 outages.

CANTON

Fire Chief Charles Doody reports that Canton had about 25 power outages as of 7:30 p.m.

In total, the fire department responded to 10 calls for service throughout the day.

EAST BRIDGEWATER

Police Chief Scott Allen and Fire Chief Timothy Harhen report that the police and fire departments responded to nearly 60 calls for service in relation to the storm beginning at 7:30 a.m. today.

Most of the calls were for road hazards, such as fallen trees and wires. The fire department provided mutual aid to West Bridgewater for a structure fire this afternoon and went to another call for burned food.

National Grid was in town actively working to restore about 618 outages as of 7:30 p.m.

Residents needing shelter for the night can go to a Red Cross regional shelter at the First Congregational Church at 254 Main St. in Plympton or the Plymouth North High School at 41 Obery St. in Plymouth.

While all roads are currently open and passable in town, residents are warned to use extreme caution and only drive if it is absolutely necessary.

EASTON

Fire Chief Kevin Partridge and Police Chief Gary Sullivan report that progress is being made in trying to get the number of power outages in Easton down. As of 5:40 p.m. there were about 1,900 residents without power. By 7:30 p.m that number was down to 866. National Grid has more than a dozen crews working in town.

The warming center at the Richardson-Olmsted Elementary School, 101 Lothrop St., will be open until 10 p.m. tonight. For details about the warming center or if you are in need of assistance, call the Easton Fire Department at 508-230-3311.

There were only two streets in town that were closed because of road hazards as of 8:30 p.m. after having more than a dozen during the day.

HOLBROOK

Police Chief William Smith reports that Holbrook had three car crashes throughout the day — two where drivers collided with plow trucks and another where a driver struck a utility pole. None of the crashes resulted in serious injury.

As of 7:30 p.m. there were about 35 residents without power, according the MEMA outage map.

RANDOLPH

Police Chief William Pace reports as of 7:30 p.m. only about 160 residents in town did not have electricity. Crews were working to make repairs.

Most of the calls for service that the police department responded to were for fallen trees and downed wires.

RAYNHAM

Police Chief James Donovan reports that the police department responded to three crashes throughout the day, including one where a driver collided with a plow truck on Route 138. None of the crashes resulted in serious injury.

Chief Donovan says that if residents must drive, they should be aware that the road surfaces are inconsistent and uneven and to use caution. He also warns that wind and snow drifts have cause some stop signs and traffic lights to be covered with snow.

Fire Chief James Januse reports that Raynham still has a small amount of scattered power outages throughout town. There are four roads in Raynham that are currently blocked with fallen trees and wires.

In total, the police department responded to 58 calls for service and the fire department went to 26 calls as of 7:30 p.m.

TAUNTON

Fire Chief Timothy Bradshaw reports that the fire department spent most of the day responding to downed trees and wires. There were also multiple crashes and a number of medical calls, some related to shoveling and snow blowing.

There are still areas without power in the city, but all issues were being addressed in a timely manner.

The fire department is currently staffing six engines and two ladders with a total of 30 firefighters tonight, which is about eight more than are on-duty than on a typical day.

WHITMAN

Fire Chief Timothy Grenno reports that the Whitman Fire Department dealt with a variety of issues throughout the day including multiple fallen utility poles, trees that fell on cars and trees blocking roads.

As of 7:30 p.m. there was about 1 percent of the town without power.

A warming center will be opening up at the Whitman-Hanson Regional High School at 9 a.m. for residents who need to utilize it.

Chief Grenno asks that residents shovel out fire hydrants that are near homes, which will help in the event of a fire.

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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