Salem Observer : Salem, fire department

New Internet communication system will help Fire Department get emergency messages out faster

Salem Editor — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:43:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

Fire officials hope the switch to a new townwide communication system will make it easier to get emergency information out to residents without affecting the department’s bottom line.

Though emergency management officials have used telephone lines to make reverse-911 calls to residents during an emergency in the past, Fire Marshal Jeffrey Emanuelson said the new system – known as CodeRED and implemented as part of this year’s budget – is an Internet-based network that gives the Fire Department the upgraded ability to make 60,000 calls in an hour.

Despite the annual cost of $15,000, Emanuelson said the department could make the transition from the older, landline-based system without affecting the budget or the town’s tax rate. At the same time, the new system offers a range of new abilities, from contacting residents on their cell phones to sending out text message alerts and updates.

“Under the old system, we had we had to purchase telephone lines from FairPoint ... It could make nine phone calls at a time, (multiplied by) however many repetitions we had to get out. It would take hours to do a townwide notification for a town of about 30,000,” Emanuelson said. “There is no software to update and nothing to maintain. We don’t have to do anything here.”

While plans to upgrade the department’s emergency communication system were in the works during last year’s budgeting process, Emanuelson said December’s ice storm brought home the advantage of being able to contact with residents via their cell phones rather than landline telephones.

“A lot of landlines were down during the ice storm, and even though we were making phone calls, they were going unanswered,” he said.

CodeRED has the advantage of allowing residents to sign up for the notifications through the town’s Web site as well, according to Emanuelson.

For those residents without Internet access, a manual sign-up process will be available at key locations around town, like the Kelley Library and fire and police departments.

Fire Chief Kevin Breen said the Web-based communication systems are beginning to garner more attention from emergency officials across the state and country.

“You think about all these disasters, and we’ve started to notice a lot of universities and areas have these Webbased systems. UNH has it for parents and students can do the same,” Breen said. “For instance, if we have the ice storm again, we will be able to use this system to reach out to people; they can key in a number (if they) require additional help or service.”

In the future, Emanuelson believes the system will also allow the town to send out e-mail alerts or updates to residents as well as text messages and prerecorded telephone calls. One of the many advantages of the new system, Emanuelson said, is that the cost to the department stays the same even as new options are made available.

Fire leaves dozens homeless in Salem

Salem Editor — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:22:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

An unattended stove sparked the April 2 fire inside of a Westgate Arms apartment building that left one man hospitalized and roughly 30 people without a home, fire officials said.

The three-alarm blaze began inside Apt. 12 of the three-story building at 25 Oak Ridge Avenue just before 6 p.m. Firefighters arrived on the scene within three minutes of the first report, though officials said the fire later extended into the walls and the ceiling, forcing crews to use thermal cameras to track down the remnants of the blaze.

Apartments on the second and third floor closest to Apt. 12, which was left gutted by the blaze, suffered some damage from the fire, according to apartment management.

Repairs are expected to take up to three weeks or more to complete, and in the meantime, residents of the 25-unit apartment building have been either given rooms at the Red Roof Inn or asked to stay with friends or family.

Though she was not home at the time, resident Erin Torrey said she had “a panic attack” when her boyfriend called to let her know about the fire. Standing outside the building on Friday with a week’s worth of work clothes, Torrey said she and her boyfriend were staying in Hampstead for the time being.

Her first-floor apartment had been left undamaged by the fire, but she expected it would be more than a week before she could return to the home she’s lived in for a year and a half.

“We were really lucky on the ground floor,” she said. “It barely even smells anymore.” The American Red Cross was also on hand on Friday to give assistance to residents who have been forced to relocated for the time being because of the fire.

Though one unidentified man was transported to Elliot Hospital in Manchester for smoke inhalation, officials said he was released on Friday.

Salem received mutual aid from Windham, Derry, Hampstead, Pelham and Methuen and Haverhill, Mass., while firefighters from Atkinson and Plaistow provided coverage for the rest of the town during the fire.

Bomb threat leads to arrest in Salem

Salem Editor — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:08:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

An investigation into a phoned-in bomb threat at the Mall at Rockingham Park led coincidentally to the arrest of an Apple Store employee who allegedly stole a set of speakers valued at $100.

On April 5, police said they found the speakers inside a suspicious- looking box near a large trash bin outside the building after an unknown man called 911 from a mall pay phone at about 3:30 p.m., told operators that there was a bomb, then hung up.

Though the area was secured and both the Salem Fire Department and a bomb-sniffing dog from the New Hampshire State Police Bomb Squad were called in, officers were able to quickly determine that the box did not contain explosives, according to the police.

Police arrested Bryan Donovan, 20, of Derry after a subsequent investigation led officers to believe Donovan had placed the speakers outside and planned to pick them up when his shift ended.

Donovan was charged with theft and released on personal recognizance pending his arraignment at Salem District Court.

Officials said the bomb threat was called in from a bank of payphones that is used regularly to make prank phone calls. Authorities are asking that anyone with more information regarding the prank bomb threat to call the Salem Police Department at 893-1911.

New trucks top list for Salem second session

Salem Editor — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:36:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

A slew of appropriations are due to come before Salem voters on Saturday, March 14, as town officials look to residents to approve the purchase of a new fire engine, ambulance, dump truck and other service vehicles at the second deliberative session of Salem Town Meeting.

Officials are asking voters to agree to a five-year, $112,438 lease with an option to purchase a replacement engine for the fire department and additional equipment for the vehicle as well as a $60,006, fiveyear lease on a new ambulance also with equipment.

For the Department of Public Works, voters will weigh in on a proposal to enter a five-year $25,836 lease agreement for a new dump truck and a five-year $38,372 lease to replace two of the town’s salters. Public Works officials are asking voters to approve a $1 million appropriation to fund winter weather operations for the remaining year.

While voters were asked to approve the funding for two bridges on the annual ballot on March 10, another bridge replacement project is up for vote. Officials are looking to residents to approve a $468,000 appropriation to fund the reconstruction of the Pelham Road bridge over the Porcupine Brook.

According to officials, the current culvert is structurally inadequate and hydrologically deficient. Minor repairs that were completed following the Mother’s Day floods of 2006 have reached their functional life span.

Selectmen are also calling on voters to approve $193,890 for the purchase of three emergency generators following the December ice storm. One generator will keep power restored to the Wheeler Dam on Canobie Lake in the event of a loss of electricity and the other will allow the town to open an emergency shelter at the Ingram Senior Center.

Salem deputy fire chief retires

Salem Editor — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:46:00 GMT

BY DARRELL HALEN

Mike Wallace recently closed a 22-year career at the Salem Fire Department. But his dedication to fire service is by no means over.

Wallace, who served as deputy fire chief since 2002 and retired from the department Dec. 31, plans to continue working as a consultant and teacher to help fire departments grow and improve.

“I’ll still be involved in fire service but just not as a fulltime member,” said Wallace, 45. “I’ll be doing my passion, which is training and teaching.”

Wallace plans to continue doing two things he was already doing before he retired: teaching at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Md., and running his business, Wallace Training Associates. In addition, he’s taking on a new responsibility: working on special projects for a Boston-based municipal management company.

“Helping fire departments grow and get better, that’s very exciting for me,” he said.

Wallace, who is originally from Hudson, Mass., has spent 25 years as a firefighter. He began his career in 1984 in Windham, where a great uncle served as the fire chief and an uncle was the deputy chief. He joined Salem’s fire department in 1987. He made the move because he wanted to work in a department that was busier, offered more opportunities for professional growth, and where he could be “Mike Wallace, the person,” rather than the nephew of the men running the station.

During his service in Salem, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in 1992 and became a deputy fire chief 10 years later. He worked in a variety of areas, including training, emergency medical services, safety, hazardous materials, grants and emergency response planning.

His career included responding to serious incidents in 2006: the Mother’s Day floods and an underground propane tank accident that shut down Route 28.

Throughout his career, he achieved several degrees: an associate’s degree in fire science from the New Hampshire Technical College Laconia in 1992, a bachelor of science degree in fire administration and emergency management in 1997 from Rivier College in Nashua, an MBA in leadership from Franklin Pierce College, and a master of arts degree in organizational management from the University of Phoenix’s Cambridge, Mass., campus.

“He has a lot of secondary education,” said Salem Fire Chief Kevin Breen, who has known Wallace since he joined the department. “He has a passion for the pursuit of formal education and he was also an advocate (of it) for the fire service.”

Wallace lives in Salem with his wife, Margaret, and their two daughters, Brittany, 13, and Michaela, 10. Retiring means he’ll be able to spend more time attending school functions and Brittany’s softball games. Working as a consultant gives him the flexibility to do that.

“Just working my hours, that’s what I’m looking forward to,” said Wallace.

Changes in the state retirement system and a family member’s health issues led to his decision to retire last year. It was a move, he said, that was best for his family and career.

“It was time to move on, but I was proud of my accomplishments,” said Wallace.

Those accomplishments include improving emergency medical services; obtaining a mass casualty incident trailer; working with fire chiefs to develop plans to handle blizzards, floods, ice storms and other disasters; and working with others to get automated exterior defibrillators – portable electronic devices used to restore an effective heart rhythm in victims of cardiac arrest - into all schools.

When he retired, Wallace was third in command of a department with 75 employees and an annual budget of roughly $7 million. He left with mixed emotions.

“(Firefighting) is what I wanted to do since I was a little kid,” he said. “Not doing it full time has been kind of sad but not a lot. There’s a lot of excitement to do the training, the teaching, all the stuff I was doing on a limited basis (that now) I can do more of.”

At the National Fire Academy, Wallace instructs hazmat incident management and teaches in its executive fire officer program.

His company provides safety and management training. The services offered by the Boston firm he’ll be working for include fire chief recruitments, organization assessments, and strategic planning for fire departments.

Wallace is ready to continue putting the skills he’s acquired over a quarter-century of fire service to good use.

“I’m the type of person who believes you should take an active role in life and my whole thing is, give back,” said Wallace. “The (Salem) department was very good to me to give me an education, give me a lot of experience. If I can give that back to other departments – locally, statewide, regionally, nationally – I think the (Salem) department would be proud knowing I’m using my (education) to help others.”

Salem man dies from CO poisoning

Salem Editor — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 13:14:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

The death of a 77- year-old man from carbon monoxide poisoning occurred after power to his home had been restored, officials said.

Alexander Conca returned home at 13 Mason Drive on Tuesday, Dec. 16, to check up on his residence after power had been restored sometime earlier in the day, according to Fire Marshal Jeffrey Emanuelson. Conca had been staying with relatives during the prolonged power outage, Emanuelson said.

While a time of death is not yet known, officials believe Conca and his dog likely succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning sometime on the afternoon of Dec. 16 or in the early evening.

Emergency rescue personnel responded to the home at about 10:40 p.m. after relatives reported that they no longer had contact with Conca. There had also been reports of smoke coming from the house, according to authorities.

Officials believe a malfunctioning boiler resulted in Conca’s death. He did not have working smoke or carbon monoxide detectors in his house when he died, either of which would have alerted him to the danger, Emanuelson said.

Law enforcement officials said neighbors did report hearing a small explosion earlier Tuesday evening.

The Salem resident has become the fourth storm-related casualty in the state and the second to die as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. In Danville, Larry I. Jenkins died on Friday, Dec. 19, from what safety officials describe as a “silent killer” after operating a gas powered generator with the exhaust blocked in the RV he was living in at the time.

Conca’s death has public safety officials repeating calls for residents still without power to properly use portable heat sources, other alternative heat sources and to maintain chimneys and fireplaces.

“With carbon monoxide being odorless and colorless, you won’t notice it until it’s too late,” Emanuelson said. “As homes have been dormant for many days, when you get to refire these appliances, you need to make sure they’re working properly. If you have any doubt, notify your service providers. Just flipping the switch may or may not be enough.”

Officials throughout the week have reported finding dozens of residents improperly using portable generators and other alternative heating devices in Salem. In neighboring Windham, more than 20 cases of carbon monoxide had been reported and two individuals were hospitalized to use a hyperbaric chamber due to the level of gas in their system.

Conca’s death remains under investigation by the state fire marshal’s office.

Ice storm keeps area safety departments busy

Salem Editor — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 13:11:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

Jeffrey Emanuelson lost power after the Dec. 11 ice storm like hundreds of thousands of others across the state.

But instead of hunkering down with his family for a long, dark weekend in front of a fireplace like so many others, Emanuelson – Salem’s fire marshal – went to work.

“This is what we do. Whether its a natural disaster, a major fire or a mass casualty incident, the fire service responds,” Emanuelson said. “When it happens you know what’s coming and you handle the situations as they come.”

The Hudson resident joined the rest of Salem’s senior management team in coordinating relief, rescue and repair operations across the community throughout that weekend, taking time off when he could to rest, eat and go home and check on his family.

Several days after the first power lines went down, things have pretty much returned to normal for the department.

Twenty-year veteran firefighter Dave O’Brien said that as the number of calls coming into the station slowed down, the department had let out a collective breath of relief.

“(After the storm) was pretty much the busiest call volume I have ever seen, multiple calls from wires down to trees in houses and that on top of the medical aid calls,” he said.

On top of responding to emergencies as they arose, O’Brien said the department had been out canvassing neighborhoods hit with the power outages, going door-to-door and advising residents on proper portable generator use as well as locations where they could find food and shelter.

Emergency responders in neighboring Windham – where around 1,000 homes remained without power a full week after the storm struck – faced similar challenges as their Salem counterparts.

According to Assistant Fire Chief Robert Leuci, his department’s regular 24-hour shift personnel had been augmented by firefighters coming in during their time off to work an extra 10 or 12 hours.

“We catch a nap here or there and we make a point to eat properly. No matter what, we’re taking care of ourselves,” Leuci said. “We get (our staff) in and we rehabilitate them so they can go out and work to the best of their abilities.”

Some of the strain was lessened by bringing volunteers to man a communications center to give out basic information concerning the power outage to residents, he said. Still, with many in the department local residents, Leuci said everyone was dealing with the “unspoken stress” of leaving families at home with no heat, running water or power.

“When we’re here helping everybody else, we also have our families to take care of at the same time. While our folks are out checking on the neighborhood, we tell them to check on your own family. We’re doing anything that we can do to help our firefighters help their families so that’s one less worry on their mind,” Leuci said. “I have got to give them credit, they’ve served above and beyond.”

In Salem, Emanuelson praised the dedication of his entire department throughout the crisis.

“No one is any different from anybody else. It’s a collective. There is no one individual that has done more than any other to make sure we have the assets available,” he said.

Ice storm 2008 - Salem & Windham

Salem Editor — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 01:46:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

People are still dealing with the aftermath of the ice storm that left a good portion of the state without electricity and heat. Power companies are working as quickly as possible to restore power, bringing in crews from other states, but thousands remain disconnected.

Gov. John Lynch declared a state of emergency after more than 325,000 New Hampshire residents were left without power following the storm many officials say was worse than the one in 1998.

“It goes without saying that we lost power to a significant number of homes.” said Salem police Capt. Shawn Patten. “We also had significant damage to homes, vehicles and power lines. It’s taken days of cleanup to get the town into working order.”

Windham Fire Chief Tom McPherson said his department has been working around the clock. “The impact was the same as it’s been all over the state. It taxed our manpower,” he said. “Our concern was for the elderly population, making sure they’re safe.”

McPherson said the department transported several residents suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning from improper use of generators, although no deaths in the Salem area had been reported as of press time.

“It’s as significant if not more than 1998. It’s the worst I’ve seen it,” said McPherson. “Just the impact that it had on the community from a resident as well as public safety – it’s something I haven’t seen in a while.”

Transportation was also adversely affected in much of the state.

“From the police perspective, the issues are more traffic related – getting in and out of neighborhoods safely with downed lines and such,” said Windham Police Chief Gerald Lewis. “Fortunately, we haven’t had any crimes related to this.”

All towns hit, some more than others
“I’ve been with the department for 16 years, and this is the most I’ve seen with power outages and other things,” said Weare Police Lt. James Carney. “Although there was more ice on the road (in 1998), I just don’t remember this many trees down and this many people in the dark.”

Weare was one of the towns hit hardest by the storm, with about 75 percent of the town without power, according to Carney. As of Monday, Dec. 15, several hundred residents were still in the dark.

Disaster was averted when a local TV news team arrived in Weare to do a story on the damage, as the cameraman setting up and several members of the Police Department dodged a tree that began falling in their direction.

In Goffstown, 1,800 residents still had no power as of Monday, Dec. 15. Police Chief Patrick Sullivan said that number was at about 4,600 at the storm’s peak.

“The worst part is the inconvenience for all the people,” said Sullivan.“We certainly appreciate their patience, that’s for sure.”

One police lieutenant in the Goffstown department had to leave his post at the Emergency Operation Center after finding out his home was on fire. The blaze left a hole in the the side of his house, and leaving it uninhabitable.

Several roads were closed in Goffstown, but nearly every one was open by the beginning of the week, with the exception of Shirley Hill Road.

Another town thumped by the ice storm was New Boston. According to Police Chief Chris Krajenka, at one point only one road was open in town – Route 12N to Goffstown.

“It was scary out there,” said Krajenka. “Snapping trees, falling limbs – some of the sounds were God-awful.”

Some towns did have to deal with crime during the storm. Auburn Police Chief Edward Picard said his department received a call during the power outage about an attempted break-in.

The call came at 3 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 14, but Picard said his department hasn’t been faced with the theft of generators that he has been told is happening in surrounding towns.

“People have to go all the way to Connecticut to purchase generators,” said Picard. “The bad guys are using this emergency to their advantage.”

As of Tuesday, Dec. 16, about 50 percent of Auburn was in the dark, compared to what Picard estimated to be about 90 percent at the storm’s height.

Despite the negative effects, Picard said there was a positive aspect of the storm.

“I’m proud of the way that the town has responded to helping their neighbors who don’t have power,” said Picard. “There were private residents going around with their generators, and that’s the character of Auburn.”

The use of generators and personal heaters made for busy days and nights for the Hooksett Fire Department, according to Chief Michael Williams.

“We were extremely busy responding to over 60 electrical emergency incidents in a 48-hour period,” said Williams. “We are now experiencing carbon monoxide problems due to generators operating in garages and kerosene heater operating houses. Just (Monday) we responded to five carbon monoxide problems with related medical symptoms.”

Approximately half of Bedford remained in the dark as of press time, with approximately 3,500 customers still without electricity, and Police Chief David Bailey said reaching those residents has been difficult.

“The people you want to get the message to don’t get the power. So we put fliers in the restaurants, supermarkets and such to tell them what we have to offer,” said Bailey. “People may not have power until Friday in a lot of places. It isn’t just Bedford, it’s the whole southern tier of the state, and there are people a lot worse than us. They’re spread so thin, and they’re doing as much as they can.”

Officials opened a shelter at Bedford High School, but were running the school on generator power at the beginning of the outage.

For Bailey, the most difficult aspect of the storm’s repercussions is not knowing.

“When exactly their power is coming on, that’s not up to us. If it comes on sooner than the end of the week, you’re pleasantly surprised,” Bailey said. “Public services doesn’t want to make promises they can’t keep.”

Man arrested for arson after setting trailer on fire in Salem

Salem Editor — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 21:01:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

The arrest of a Massachusetts man over an alleged stolen car stereo led to the discovery of a potentially life-threatening arson attempt in a trailer park, police said.

Police charged Robert Zuill, 38, of Lawrence, Mass., with receiving stolen property, false reports and arson after officers found a car stereo hidden under Zuill’s coat at about 1 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7, then went to the trailer home he said was his residence and found the place on fire.

Officers initially stopped Zuill and an unnamed woman after observing the two acting suspiciously in the vicinity of the Salem Depot. While confirming the pair’s identities, officers responded to their alleged residence at 34 Traveler’s Drive, where police said they found the trailer’s windows smashed out, smoke detectors ripped from the ceiling and a torn up phone book placed on top of an lighted stove.

Officers extinguished the fire, and damage was limited to the stove and the hood, according to authorities. Police said the landlord confirmed that the pair had moved into the home the day before.

Described as “cooperative” with authorities throughout the incident, the woman confirmed Zuill’s identity after he gave police false information and accompanied the officers to the trailer park. She told police that Zuill had caused the damage to the trailer home over the past two days.

Zuill, who also had an outstanding warrant for his arrest, is being held on a $10,000 cash bail pending his arraignment at Salem District Court.

Veteran gives Salem flags flown in Baghdad

Salem Editor — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 01:41:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

Robert Ventullo, a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, said his admiration for the men and women who serve as police officers and firefighters led him to present the town with three flags flown at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

“It’s an admiration I have for them. It’s always been a lifelong dream to become a police officer,” said Ventullo, a Salem resident who serves in the Massachusetts National Guard. “They risk their lives every day. Every time they go into work their lives are on the line, just like mine was. They do it every day.”

Ventullo, who said that though he had never been able to realize his dream of becoming one of the boys in blue, he has enjoyed his 18 years as a member of the military police, also presented a flag each to the Fire Department and the town hall.

He returned from his most recent 12-month tour in Iraq with 150 U.S. flags he had purchased and then flown above the embassy for friends and relatives while he was stationed in the Green Zone. Ventullo said that having the ability to fly the flags was one of the benefits of being a military police officer serving overseas.

“It’s pretty hard to get an American flag flown on any embassy,” he said. “Being an MP, we have our little perks and we’re allowed to do certain things. If you wanted a flag flown in Baghdad, it would be hard for you to do it. It’s not like everybody can do it.”

According to Deputy Chief William Ganley, the flags will be put on display behind a glass case along with a plaque inside the police department. He described the flag as a touching gift for a department that has its own share of combat veterans and seen a few officers leave their families and their jobs to serve overseas.

On Oct. 13, Ganley was on hand with Salem’s Board of Selectmen to honor both Ventullo’s donation and his service to the nation.

“I guess we’ve seen it first hand. Some of our guys have gone away to Afghanistan and Iraq, and we know the sacrifices they make with their families. It was nice to see a resident drop (the flag) off for us and recognize the Police Department. We were humbled,” Ganley said. “It was nice to have a soldier get recognition for a job well done. We just wanted to make sure he felt his efforts were appreciated.”

Ventullo said the real heroes were the people back home. First and foremost among them was his wife, who he said managed a household and cared for their three small children while he was overseas.

“When I left for Iraq, my daughter was 4 months old and I had 2-year-old twin girls,” he said. “She had to maintain my house and had all of the responsibility dumped on her while I was away. She was more of a hero while I was away. She had three kids in diapers and doing the simplest things, cutting the grass, plowing, she got all that dumped on her while I was gone.”

With six years left in the National Guard, Ventullo is looking at another deployment overseas sometime in July of 2009. The hardest part, he said, will be leaving his children again.

“I’m worried for kids, not for me,” he said the father of four. “They just don’t understand. When I left my daughter, the first time I saw her walk was on a Webcam. You miss birthdays and holidays. At a young age they don’t understand.”

Trapped at Salem mall

Salem Editor — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 23:27:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

A woman was trapped in an elevator for about half an hour when a transformer near the food court at the Rockingham Mall malfunctioned, causing electrical glitches. The woman, who left immediately after being rescued and was not identified, was not injured, said Salem Fire Marshal Jeffrey Emanuelson.

The mall was evacuated just after 5 p.m on Monday, Sept. 8, when Salem fire responded to the mall’s fire alarm. When firefighters arrived, there was a strong electrical odor in the Food Court area, accompanied by light smoke and flashing lights.

After the evacuation began, firefighters went to work with National Grid and the mall’s electrician to find the source of the problem.

The three-phase transformer responsible was on the west side of the mall, just outside the food court entrance.

“In high-demand electrical users, it’s the most efficient way to provide electricity,” said Emanuelson.

Emanuelson said the problem started because something happened that caused the transformer to get less power, and it was running on about two-thirds of the power it should have been getting. A motor helping to run the electricity burned out, and Emanuelson said it’s not clear whether the motor burning out caused the transformer to malfunction, or vice versa.

Power was lost in the food court and other stores on the second floor of the mall. About 25 percent of the mall’s second level was without power when customers were allowed back into the mall at around 7:30 p.m., Emanuelson said. National Grid and electricians were working on fixing the transformer immediately after the incident.

“It appears that everything is back to normal this morning. They were working on it all through the night,” said Emanuelson on Tuesday, Sept. 9.

Mall security and management aided in evacuating the mall quickly. Salem police also helped with the evacuation and kept traffic flowing out of the mall afterwards.

“All the agencies worked well together, between police, fire, mall management and security, and National Grid to minimize the impact to the mall business and to bring it to a successful conclusion with no injuries,” Emanuelson said.

Collection agency called in for Salem ambulance bills

Salem Editor — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:57:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

Fire and finance department officials are making a break with tradition by enlisting the services of a collection agency to help recoup some of the $132,000 owed to the town in outstanding ambulance bills.

In March, Director of Finance Jane Savastano began working with the town’s third-party billing agent Comstar to address what she called “pages and pages” of unpaid ambulance service accounts, some dating back to 2001. She has also put a temporary stop to writing off accounts in an attempt to catch up with large amount of outstanding debt owed to the town.

Coming before the board on Aug. 25, Savastano recommended writing off any account for less than $100 – some of them are for as little as a few cents, she said – and anything prior to 2005.

Unpaid ambulance bills dating from 2005 on would be handed over to a collection agency, in a break from the past. In previous years, those accounts that Comstar had been unable to recoup were presented to the Board of Selectmen to nullify on a monthly basis. Savastano said the write-offs had begun to distort the town’s revenue.

“This is kind of a catch-up time for the last couple of years, trying to write off this old noncollectable debt. Other (boards of selectmen) did not encourage going through collection agencies and with that, (the accounts) just went off on a write-off report,” Savastano said. “Hopefully, we’ll recover some debt. The hope will be to be on top of it once the old billings are cleaned up. It’ll be easier month to month.”

While the board has been supportive of Savastano and Fire Chief Kevin Breen’s move towards using a collection agency to address the loss of those funds, they did express reservations at the just over $76,000 in unpaid invoices the two are asking to be written off before moving forward.

Most of that amount comes from accounts dating back seven or eight years, or from those that only amount to under $100. According to Savastano, collection agencies consider any outstanding bill older than two years not feasible to pursue.

“Only up to two years (serves) as a guideline for the collection agencies,” Savastano said. “That’s really whats feasible and realistic to collect. We can send them everything, but the chances are very slim. As we get caught up, it would be easier, but this is a lot of old garbage sitting out there.”

Salem would continue to work with Comstar in the future – through a process of mailing collection letters to individuals indebted to the town before reporting to the credit companies – to serve as a liaison with a collection agency in the future at no cost to the town.

According to Savastano, for every bill collected by the agency, Salem will see roughly 66 percent of those funds. About 30 percent would remain with the agency as a commission. At the moment, Comstar charges 6.5 percent of the outstanding bill at the time of collection.

On average, use of the town’s ambulance service runs at about $700 a trip, depending on the equipment used and the distance to the hospital, according to Breen. Earlier this week, he stressed to selectmen that the service was not supported by taxes and depended on users to maintain. While some people suffer from financial hardships that might hold them back from reimbursing the town, others chose not to, he said.

“There (is) a large pool of citizens who believe the ambulance services is part of their taxes. We felt it would be appropriate to discuss it publicly before we go forward,” he said on Monday. “Some of the people in Salem get paid (by insurance companies) and chose not to pay their ambulance bill. There’s one thing when there is a hardship, it’s another when you’re receiving the funds and not paying. That’s unacceptable.”

Salem fire called suspicious

Salem Editor — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 23:41:00 GMT

BY JIM DEVINE

SALEM – A fire from last week where rescue workers saved three small dogs from a Millville Street home has been deemed suspicious by investigators.

Despite heavy snowfall throughout the day on Friday, Feb. 22, firefighters were able to respond quickly to the cape home at 32 Millville St., according to Asst. Chief Paul Parisi.

The speedy attack on the fire was possible due to a staffing boost of two additional firefighters on shift made affordable by a federal government grant accepted last year.

“We knocked the fire down and kept it confined to the first floor where it began,” Parisi said.

After Fire Marshal Jeff Emanuelson’s preliminary investigation of the cause, the fire’s origin has been considered suspicious and turned over to Salem police.

The home, owned by Nancy Concemi, was left uninhabitable, with fire damage on the first floor, Parisi said, while the second floor was damaged by heavy heat and smoke.

Fired up – Crowd learns about fire safety at department open house

Salem Editor — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 15:40:00 GMT

BY LESLIE A. TOOMY

Hundreds of families flocked to the Salem Central Fire Station on a recent humid autumn day to climb into the driver’s seat of Engine One and other fire safety vehicles, witness firefighters extinguish a demonstration car fire, and view live exhibits of the Jaws of Life and in-home sprinkler systems.

It was all in keeping with this year’s National Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 7 to 13, from 10 to 2 p.m., when the Salem Fire Department hosted its annual open house to educate residents about fire safety.

Local folks were also provided with dozens of fire fact informational packets and given free prizes such as fire hats, forest ranger badges, stickers, raffle tickets and pens. Visitors were also treated to complimentary popcorn, pizza and candy and listened to the music of local rock band, Rock of Ages, which played hits from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s.

Sparky The Dog and Smokey The Bear enthusiastically greeted open house visitors that day. Children were eager to shake hands with the fire safety mentors while their parents learned more about proper fire extinguisher use and propane tank safety.

Other important materials on water conservation, carbon monoxide prevention, poison control and mobile home safety were also made available there.

“Our main goal is to do fire prevention education and to educate the public about what the fire department does,” said fire Lt. Larry Best. “We try to do something for everyone, such as the fire safety trailer for kitchen safety.”

Salem fire officials have been sponsoring the open house for more than 20 years, said Best. This year’s fire safety message being promoted by the National Fire Protection Association is “practice your escape plan.”

A 2004 NFPA survey of 1,014 adults living in the United States determined that 96 percent of Americans do have smoke detectors installed in their residences.

However, only 66 percent of Americans have an escape plan in the instance of fire and only 34 percent of them have actually practiced the escape plan.

Suggestions to improve your chances of escaping a home fire were given in pamphlets issued by B.R.K. Electronics, manufacturers of First Alert in-home fire safety products, in cooperation with the United States Fire Administration.

They recommend that people map out an escape route on a floor plan, discuss the escape plan with their family and practice with a home fire drill.

The NFPA advocates that you have a smoke alarm on every floor of your home, that you test alarms monthly and that everyone in your home be able to recognize the sound of the smoke alarm.

Smokey The Bear’s message, a Nationwide Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention Campaign sponsored by the Advertising Council Inc., has been educating the public for more than 60 years on how to practice reasonable outdoor fire safety. Their Web site at www.smokeybear.com notes that “more than 900 homes are destroyed by wildfire each year.”

Promoting awareness on how to act responsibly outdoors by putting out campfires properly and making sure matches and cigarettes are extinguished completely has laid the foundation for each generation to take better care of the environment.

In addition, adherence to state and local fire permit laws and regulations is essential to the prevention of fires as well.

For more information on fire prevention, outdoor fire safety, poison control and storage of hazardous wastes you can refer to the following Web sites: www.nhdfl.org, www.nnepc.org, www.nfpa.org, www.sparky.org or contact the Salem Fire Department non-emergency line at 890-2200.

Local eatery gutted in fire

Salem Editor — Wed, 02 May 2007 16:38:00 GMT

BY MATT HERSH

Salem police and fire officials are investigating what has been called a suspicious fire that destroyed a local eatery on Saturday, April 28.

The fire broke out around 5 a.m. at the Canobie Clam Box at 80 North Policy St., according to Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Emanuelson.

The small takeout restaurant was closed for the season at the time of the blaze and no one was injured.

Emanuelson couldn’t reveal much about the nature of the fire because of the ongoing investigation, but he said the cause of the fire seemed suspicious.

“We’re actively investigating this right now with the Salem Police Department,” he said.

Due to the construction of the 20-by-30-foot building, the fire was difficult to extinguish, Emanuelson said. There were multiple layers of roofing and siding as well as a couple ceilings which firefighters had to battle through.

“It was pretty stubborn,” he said. “We made mostly an exterior attack and had it under control within about an hour.”

The building is currently owned by Anthony and Mabel Mottolo of Andover, Mass., according to town records.

The Mottolos were unavailable for comment.

Despite an aggressive attack against the fire, Emanuelson said the building suffered more than $50,000 worth of damage to both the structure itself and equipment inside.

“It’s pretty much a total loss at this point,” he said.

The Clam Box restaurant was scheduled to open within the next month for the summer season.