Stoneham DPW Employee Helps Douse Fire: FD

STONEHAM, MA — A Stoneham Department of Public Works employee helped prevent further damage Monday when he doused an exterior fire burning by a three-family home in town, the Stoneham Fire Department announced.

Assistant Director Joe Sarno was driving through town, a fire department spokesperson later told Patch, when he saw smoke near Common Street.

Sarno called 9-1-1 before knocking on doors at the building, the spokesperson said. Sarno soon ran to the side of the building, where he saw a hose and the fire itself. He got water on the flames, the spokesperson said, managing to put out the fire before firefighters arrived on scene.

The building was occupied at the time of this fire, though some occupants did exit while Sarno helped respond. Crews later examined the building for any fire extension, the spokesperson said.

The fire melted siding and charred some material on the outside of the building before being extinguished, as shown in a photo shared from the scene.

Fire on the exterior of this 3 family was extinguished by a DPW employee driving by, preventing further damage. pic.twitter.com/BVfF7hNqYB
— Stoneham Fire Department (@StonehamFire) December 5, 2022

Stoneham Fire Chief Matt Grafton on Monday cautioned anyone against entering a burning building without proper firefighting protection.

Sarno kept safe while lending a hand in this case, Grafton said.

“The fire was hot and on its way to growing,” Grafton said in a statement, recognizing Sarno for his quick thinking.

Fire investigators were still looking into the cause of this fire as of Monday afternoon.