Published in the February 18, 2019 edition.
WAKEFIELD — Quick action by the Wakefield Fire Department likely prevented a truck fire from spreading to an adjacent commercial building on Audubon Road early Friday afternoon. Firefighters responded to the Produce Connection at 96 Audubon Road, after a call came in at 12:38 p.m. reporting a truck on fire.
SCENE FROM a fire that occurred at 96 Audubon Road at about noon on Friday. (Captain Randy Hudson Photos)
Firefighters under the command of Captain Randy Hudson arrived several minutes later to find a large fire in a commercial box truck spreading rapidly to two adjoining box trucks. Firefighters quickly deployed several hose lines and knocked the fire down. They were hindered in their efforts by gusty wind conditions. The fire heavily damaged two box trucks with a third truck receiving significant damage. There were no injuries to either employees of the Produce Connection or firefighters. Dollar loss to the box trucks was expected to exceed $200,000.
The fire was investigated by members of the Wakefield Fire Department’s fire investigation team. The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental, most likely due to an electrical malfunction in the building system that provided power to the trucks’ refrigeration equipment while they were parked at the facility.
Fire Chief Michael Sullivan praised the first responding firefighters for quickly knocking down the fire.
“They were able to quickly deploy several hose lines, confining the fire primarily to the first two trucks that caught fire and protecting a large commercial building from suffering damage,” Chief Sullivan said.
