01/08/2013 - On the evening of Tuesday, January 8, 2013 around 1730 hours a basketball game at the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School at 100 Hemlock Street in Wakefield was disrupted by the sound of smoke alarms. As occupants of the school exited the building, they realized it was no false alarm. Fire crews that responded to the scene discovered a fire in the carpentry shop that apparently started when a spark ignited saw dust. The fire extended to the ceiling and roof of the school. Smoke and fire could be seen from the roof over the carpentry shop area, as crews opened up the roof and stretched hose lines. The Wakefield and North Reading ladder companies were extended to the roof level, and the Lynnfield tower was also utilized at the scene. The Wakefield Fire Department struck two alarms for the evening blaze which brought in mutual aide engine and truck companies from Lynnfield, North Reading, Saugus and Stoneham to the scene. Several other companies responded to Wakefield for station coverage. Rehab Five also responded to provide rehab services for the firefighters battling the blaze. The exact cause of the blaze is under investigation. The State Fire Marshal was requested to respond to the scene, but it is not believed to be suspicious in nature. No injuries were reported. The school remained closed for clean up the remainder of the school week, and is expected to have a two-hour delayed opening on Monday, January 14th. The basketball game was postponed until a later date.
