The Lampost on Circuit Avenue will be engulfed in smoke early on Sunday morning, Jan. 11, and that’s just the way Oak Bluffs Fire Chief John Rose wants it.
“It’s the first phase in preplanning a fire in our downtown area,” Chief Rose told The Times. “It’s a three-town operation; Tisbury and Edgartown will be sending over apparatus and crews to help us to make it as realistic as possible.”
Chief Rose estimates there will be 15 fire and EMS vehicles and between 50 and 60 fire and EMS personnel. The drill will commence around 8:30 am and should be concluded by noon. Chief Rose said the simulated smoke may be visible to passersby as early as 7:30. “We want to get the word out so people won’t be alarmed,” he said.
Circuit Ave will remain open during the drill. The only road closure will be on Kennebec from Healy Way to Lake Avenue. Parking spots in front of the Lampost, the Ritz Cafe and Mocha Mott’s will be taken up by fire and EMS vehicles. “We’re trying to minimize the impact to the business community, but it’s something that we have to do,” Chief Rose said. “We have to get prepared for a big fire in that area. It’s such a challenge with the old wood buildings being so tight together. There’s so many things that make a fire down there a tricky approach.”
An added complication for firefighters is the volatile Island weather, which could quickly turn a kitchen fire into a conflagration. “You have to consider what’s your wind direction, what’s your wind speed, even the time of year and the time of day. If it’s 4th of July weekend in the middle of the day, it’s a whole different fire than if it’s December in the middle of the night,” Chief Rose said.
