Published in the March 21, 2016 edition.
WAKEFIELD — Fast action by firefighters this morning likely prevented a car fire from turning into a house fire.
Police and the Fire Department were called to a Highland Avenue home at about 7:10 a.m. According to police, the resident said that she was driving to work this morning when she noticed that there was smoke coming from her car. She returned home, parked the car in her driveway and went inside to call her mechanic when she saw that the car had caught fire.
When firefighters arrived, they found the vehicle fully involved in flames. The fire had also melted the siding of the house. Fire Chief Michael Sullivan said firefighters were able to prevent the house from catching on fire but the heat from the car fire caused significant damage to the side of the home.
Firefighters remained on the scene until about 7:45 a.m.
—————
Two women face charges of operating under the influence of alcohol as a result of separate motor vehicle incidents over the weekend.
At 12:30 a.m. on Saturday Officer Russell Carman was on routine patrol when he spotted a green Toyota Camry pulled off to the side of the Route 129 Rotary with its emergency flashers activated. Officer Carman pulled in behind what he believed was a disabled motor vehicle. After getting out of his cruiser, Officer Carman noticed heavy front-end damage to the Toyota, which had apparently hit a sign. While speaking with the driver, he noticed an odor of alcohol.
After conducting a series of field sobriety tests, Lois Halper, 69, of 1758 Commonwealth Ave. in Brighton was placed under arrest for operating under the influence of alcohol.
—————
At about 10:15 p.m. Sunday night, Officer Matthew Powers was in his cruiser traveling south on Montrose Avenue approaching Water Street when he observed a black, 2012 Nissan Altima hit the curb as it was making a left turn onto Montrose Avenue. Officer Powers turned his cruiser around and caught up with the car, which he said was in the the wrong travel lane. He attempted to stop the car, which eventually pulled over at the Irving gas station. When speaking with the driver, Officer Powers noticed slurred speech and an odor of alcohol. He arrested Valerie Smyrnios, 54, of 42 Newcastle Rd. in Peabody, for operating under the influence of alcohol and a marked lanes violation.
—————
In other business over the weekend:
• Police responded to a minor two car crash at Main and Lowell streets at about 10 a.m. on Saturday. Police said that a 2006 Hyundai Tucson was entering Lowell Street from Main Street and hit a 2007 Nissan Murano. The driver of the Hyundai was cited for a “Stop” sign violation.
• Two people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries after a crash at North Avenue and West Water Street between a 2007 tractor and a 2011 Chevy Equinox. Police said that the Equinox was traveling south on North Avenue and was in the process of turning left onto West Water Street when it was rear-ended by the tractor. The Fire Department and Action Ambulance also responded to the scene.
• An incident between two juveniles involving a scooter will result in a 15-year-old boy being summonsed to court on charges of delinquency by reason on larceny and assault and battery. Police said that the two youths were in the process of swapping the “deck” portions of their scooters when one of the youths shoved the other and took off with the other youth’s deck. The victim followed the other youth and called police, who said that they located the 15-year-old at his home where they were able to recover the stolen property.
• Police and the Fire Department responded to a minor crash between a 2013 Honda Accord and a 2008 Ford F150 at North Avenue and Prospect Street at about 4:45 p.m. on Sunday. The Fire Department reported no injuries.
—————
The Fire Department responded to 26 calls over the weekend, 17 of which were for medical aid.
On Friday at 11:10 a.m., the Fire Department responded to a clothes dryer fire at the Lakeside Inn on North Avenue. Firefighters said that lint in and around the dryer had caught fire. They were able to contain the fire before it spread.
At about 9:15 a.m. on Sunday, a caller reported a military Humvee on fire in the Route 129 Rotary. Responding firefighters said that any fire was out when they arrived on scene and the issue was caused by a malfunctioning internal light. The National Guard vehicle was towed back to Camp Curtis Guild.
At 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, the Fire Department responded to a reported electrical transformer fire behind the Co-operative Bank on Main Street. The fire was out upon the arrival of firefighters, who remained on scene until the Light Department took over.
