Chelsea firefighters will demonstrate how to smother an electric vehicle fire at the department’s open house on Saturday, October 17. Several of the 194 fires reported in Chelsea over the past year involved lithium-ion batteries or electric vehicles, Fire Chief John Quatieri said in a city announcement.
The open house runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Central Fire Station, 307 Chestnut Street. It is free, and pizza will be served. It is part of Fire Prevention Week, which this year carries the theme “Charge into Fire Safety; Safe Charging is a Superpower.”
“We’ll be demoing how to use EV blankets that smother an electric vehicle fire, and a product that seals lithium-ion batteries to prevent fires caused by overheating,” said Quatieri, a 34-year veteran of the department. Quatieri said the goal is to help residents charge phones, laptops, e-bikes and scooters safely.
The day will also include a “Jaws of Life” vehicle extraction, a smokehouse simulator and a chance to work a fire hose alongside firefighters. The Fire Prevention Division can be reached at 617-466-4620 or [email protected].
The same Saturday, October 17, the city’s free community flu clinic runs from 8 to 11 a.m. at St. Luke’s Church, 201 Washington Avenue, and a regional walk-in vaccine clinic runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Chelsea Senior Center, 10 Riley Way. The city says anyone can get a flu shot at the St. Luke’s clinic, with or without insurance.
City buildings closed Monday
City Hall, the Chelsea Public Library, the Senior Center and the City Yard will be closed Monday, October 12, for Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Police and fire stations stay open, and online services remain available.
There is no trash or recycling pickup Monday, so collection runs a day late all week: Monday’s route on Tuesday, Tuesday’s on Wednesday, and so on. Resident permit parking and street sweeping rules will not be enforced Monday. Permit enforcement resumes at 12 a.m. Tuesday, October 13.
Household Hazardous Waste Day, October 31
Residents can drop off household hazardous waste for free on Saturday, October 31, from 9 a.m. to noon in the teachers’ parking lot at the Mary C. Burke School, 300 Crescent Avenue. The Department of Public Works will take cleaning products, batteries, propane tanks, oil, paint and light bulbs, among other items. It is free for Chelsea residents. Questions go to Chelsea 311 at 617-466-4209.
Photo: Chelsea’s fire chief at a September 3 ceremony beside a portrait of Firefighter Peter Kann.