New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
“A MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF:
“Yesterday we got a little help from our friends!
“At approximately 4:30pm the department responded to a fire on a farm located on Perry Hill Road. Arriving personnel found large piles of logs and mulch burning in an area of approximately 200 feet by 120 feet. No structures or equipment were threatened. The fire spread from an agriculturally permitted fire.
“Firefighter Andrew Corrigan established command then went to work. He assumed the role of Incident Commander and realized that the biggest issue facing him was the establishment of a water supply as there are no hydrants in that part of town.
“Corrigan asked and our neighbors responded. Tankers from Rochester (2), Freetown, Lakeville and Dartmouth District 3.
Mattapoisett sent an engine to serve as a pump and Fairhaven covered our Station One. The Acushnet DPW provided scene lighting, Acushnet Water Department monitored our water system while Acushnet PD secured the roads so we could work safely. The Providence Canteen arrived and provided much needed refreshments to the crews.
“In total, 35 firefighters were kept busy for several hours. In addition, two ambulance were dispatched during this time for Acushnet residents experiencing medical emergencies. By the end of the incident, well over 100,000 gallons of water had been moved from hydrants via apparatus to the base of the fire. That is an incredible amount of good old Acushnet H2O.
“We thank the firefighters and officers from the surrounding communities for their assistance. We are thankful that this incident did not result in any injuries or damage beyond wood, mulch and agricultural debris.
“I also want to commend the men and women of our department for their smarts, muscle, sweat and strain. Fires like these are labor intensive as the fire hides in all the little pockets of large piles of stuff.”-Chief Kevin Gallagher.
