Town Meeting Approves Fire Engine Refurbishment

The town will pay $265,000 to fix the corroding electrical system of Engine 1.

Burlington Town Meeting approved the appropriation of funds to fix an issue with a fire engine that has been limiting the Fire Department's effectiveness and putting firefighters at risk.  The appropriation was for $265,000 to refurbish Engine 1 that Chief Steve Yetman explained has corrosion problems. Yetman said the vehicle had been in Walpole since September because it was unusable in its current condition. Engine 1 is 10-11 years old and is the department's primary vehicle. It also is not due to be replaced for at least another decade. "We had pump issued, we couldn't get pressure to the hoses," Yetman told Town Meeting. "We had it repaired but a couple of weeks later it started doing the same thing. Right now it is unreliable and …

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Fire Chief: Dangerous Year for Brush Fires

Burlington Fire Chief Steve Yetman said fallen branches and little precipitation have created good conditions for fires.

As reported on Burlington Patch yesterday, the National Weather Service had put the town and much of southern New England under a 'red flag warning' due to an increase in the likelihood of fires caused by wind and dry weather. That warning was updated yesterday afternoon and is still in effect today. The National Weather Service issued a similar warning at the end of March and with only a chance of showers predicted for this week conditions may not improve anytime soon. In fact, Burlington Fire Department Chief Steve Yetman said this year has "one of the worst conditions I’ve ever seen for the potential of brush fires." Yetman explained Hurricane Irene and the Halloween snow storm last year left a lot of downed trees, tree branches and …

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Inside Burlington's Fire Department

65,000 calls each year keeps fire fighters and EMTs busy.

Fire Chief Steven Yetman took time out of his busy day to give Patch an insider's view of life at Burlington's Fire Department.  Yetman has been a fire fighter for 32 years, serving in both Burlington and Lexington. Burlington's fire department, which has two locations in town, receives about 65,000 calls each year, the majority of which are medical emergencies.  The department operates four 13-man shifts (the same number of fire fighters as 32 years ago), and attended 100 fire incidents last year.   Station 2 (on the common) is home to 2 engines, 2 ambulances, one tower truck and the shift captain's vehicle - there is also a boat for water emergencies.  Station 1 (Middlesex Turnpike) is home to one engine and a spare. Emergency calls are …

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