Christmas Day, 2008 - On Thursday, December 25, 2008 Watertown Firefighters responded to struck Box 515 for a reported kitchen fire at a residential structure on Palfrey Street.  The 911 call to Fire Alarm came in just before 4pm and responding Fire Companies were there within 2 minutes.

Crews from Engine Company 1, Engine Company 3, Ladder Truck Company 1, and Command Car 2, were able to quickly control the oven fire, prevent extension, and ventilate the first floor of the home.  What Firefighters were not able to prevent was the Christmas dinner that had been totally ruined from the fire.

After crews had made-up (placing equipment back on their apparatus in a ready-to-deploy status) the Shift Commander went over a recap of the call, which is used to teach firefighters that if the fire had extended what further actions and techniques would be effective in extinguishing a larger and more intense fire.  During this recap, which occurs after every fire no matter how large or long, members of different crews started to express how bad they felt that these young members of our community had their Holiday meal destroyed on their first Christmas out on their own.  The President of Local 1347, IAFF, Captain Steve Igoe who was a Company Officer on scene summed it up pretty well when he said that “We have all missed plenty of meals before or have eaten them hours after they had been cooked, I’m happy to miss another one to see that a young family doesn’t have their Christmas ruined.”  All firefighters were in complete agreement and went back to their Headquarters and packed up their fresh whole turkey and all the fixings:  homemade gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans and were back at the residence within 20 minutes of clearing.  Kevin Sanderson one of the youngest and newest members of the department commented “this is exactly why I chose this profession, to help people in need.”

The Local would like to thank retired member Tom Walsh Sr. for compliling and submitting this story.