Remembering Wakefield Fire Lieutenant Robert Sullivan

On Tuesday, March 12, members of the Wakefield Fire Department and Local 1478 will gather at the corner of Main and Albion Streets to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the line-of-duty death of Wakefield Fire Lieutenant Robert Sullivan.

On March 11, 1974, Box 35 was received at 10:55 p.m. for a fire in a one-story block of stores at 381-385 Main Street. The building was occupied by Ames Drug, Florence’s Fashion Shop, and Ray Parker’s Men’s Shop. Three alarms were required to contain the fire, which destroyed the entire block. Lieutenant Sullivan succumbed while assisting with operations in the basement of the building.  

The short ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m.  Albion Street will temporarily close and several parking spaces will be blocked off to accommodate guests at this important event.