Lightning helps fuel busy day for firefighters in Bedford
by Jack Minch, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

BEDFORD -- Yesterday was a busy day for the Fire Department, which answered the call for at least two lightning strikes, a trash fire and a house fire in which a homeowner was injured trying to put out the flames apparently started by his plumber.

The first month of the new year got the Bedford Fire Department off to a fast start.

BEDFORD -- A cell phone and a swamp doesn't sound like a match made in heaven, but police say the former played a key role in helping them rescue four pre-teens from the cold and dark in Bedford last night.

Police said the boys were in a life-threatening situation when they got lost looking for a waterfall in the White Cedar Swamp Conservation Area between routes 225 and 62 yesterday afternoon, police said.

The Bedford Fire Department responded to a reported house fire on South Road in the early morning hours of December 3, 2007.  The initial response was only one engine, as the other crew was tied up with a medical emergency.  Additionally, the first snowstorm of the season was blanketing the area, causing poor road conditions which hampered efforts to get additional resources to the scene.

On September 4, 2007, a two-vehicle crash occurred on Page Road at Old Billerica Road.  Group 1 responded with three engine companies, the ambulance, a Burlington ambulance, and Armstrong paramedics.

Due to the extent of damage, one of the trapped occupants required extrication with three sets of hydraulic tools that took approximately 30 minutes.  The occupant was transported by Bedford R-2 and the paramedics to Lahey Clinic.

On August 1, 2007, Group 4 quickly contained a single-alarm fire at Bedford Village.  On arrival, crews had smoke showing from the ground floor and roof vents of a three story multi-family dwelling.  Crews found a kitchen fire in a first floor apartment, and were able to contain a majority of the fire to the kitchen of the apartment.

On September 6, 2006, Group 2 responded to a motor vehicle fire adjacent to a residence on Jonathan Lane.  A full first-alarm assignment responded and extinguished the fire, preventing any extension to the home or vehicles parked nearby.

On the afternoon of August 22, 2006, a structure fire was reported at a multi-family residence on South Road near the Town Common.  Two alarms were quickly struck due to fire showing from several windows upon arrival, but fast action by the first-arriving Bedford companies contained the fire damage to the attic and one room in the building.

On the evening of April 12, 2006, a structure fire was reported in a new housing development on Liberty Road.  Three alarms were struck for the blaze; all occupants escaped without injury, but the home was destroyed.  Mutual aid was provided by Lexington, Hanscom AFB, Billerica, Concord, Burlington, and Carlisle.

On February 18, 2006, a tanker truck rolled over in the parking lot of a Great Road gas station, causing hundreds of gallons of gasoline to leak out of the overturned trailer.  Single-digit temperatures caused difficulties with frozen lines and equipment, but there were no injuries and the spill was contained to the gas station parking lot.  Companies on scene were assisted by the Lexington Fire Department, Massachusetts Department of Fire Services, Bedford DPW, and Coady's Towing.  Station coverage was provided by Hanscom Air Force Base.