Cape Wide News for Thursday August 30th, 2012

Yarmouth Police non-emergency phone down
YARMOUTH - Regular business line phone services were not working at Yarmouth Police Headquarters. All 9-1-1 lines were still functioning for emergency use. The YPD phone services provider is working to get the lines up and running as soon as possible. Temporary service has been restored to three single lines:
508-775-0215
508-771-1212
508-771-1217

All three lines are connected to the dispatch center but are not transferable. Please use either of these lines to contact the Yarmouth Police Department until everything is resolved.

For emergencies please call 911.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation.
YPD will notify the public when regular phone service returns.
Media release furnished by Yarmouth Police

Man airlifted after suffering head injury while launching boat
MASHPEE - An elderly man was seriously injured while trying to launch a boat late Thursday morning. The incident happened at the Okway boat ramp. The man reportedly fell after being struck by the boat and suffered a head injury. The man was MedFlighted to Boston Medical Center.

Dennis man charged in Yarmouth hit-and-run
YARMOUTH - On Wednesday afternoon, Yarmouth Patrol Officer Erica Wenberg and Detective Gordon Gibbons completed their investigation of the pedestrian hit-and-run incident in Yarmouth on Sunday (see story here) and will charge Charles E. Ryder, 28, of 79 Center Street in South Dennis, with the following charges: Leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash after causing personal injury and operating an uninspected motor vehicle.

The vehicle involved is a gray 2000 Jeep Cherokee Sport, owned by Ryder’s mother, which has been seized by the Yarmouth Police Department.

The victim of the crash is currently recovering from her injuries at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
Media release provided by Yarmouth Police Department

Wellfleet man facing cocaine, heroin charges

TRURO - Truro Police arrested a Wellfleet man overnight on drug charges, 42-year-old Aaron River Gamsey was the subject of a narcotics investigation. Acting on information that Gamsey was enroute off-Cape to pickup a quantity of cocaine and heroin for alleged distribution on the Outer Cape, police set up a surveillance. As a result, Gamsey was stopped and found to be in possession of approximately 28 grams of rock cocaine and 2 grams of heroin. Gamsey was charged with trafficking in cocaine, posession with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute heroin. He was held on $5,000 bail pending arraignment Thursday in Orleans District Court. In addition to Truro Police, officers from Provincetown, Wellfleet, Eastham Police Departments along with the Cape Cod Drug Task Force and Barnstable County Sheriff's Office took part in this investigation.
Media release and photos furnished by Truro Police

Marstons Mills man charged with heroin distriution dealing
MARSTONS MILLS - Over the past month, the Barnstable Police Narcotics Unit has been investigating Justin Welsh for allegedly distributing heroin in Barnstable. During the week of August 20th, a search warrant was obtained for his residence at 90 Rosa Lane in Marstons Mills. On Tuesday, Narcotics Detectives surveilled Welsh off Cape to resupply for drugs. Welsh was then surveilled back to Barnstable, where a motor vehicle stop was conducted. Mashpee Drug K9 Officer Assad and his K9 partner Lola where then called to the scene of the stop. The dog then located approximately 11 grams of heroin in Welsh’s backpack in the rear of the car, along with a digital scale commonly used in the distribution of narcotics. Welsh was subsequently arrested for Possession of a Class A Substance (Heroin) with Intent to Distribute. He was arraigned in Barnstable District Court on Wednesday and released on bail.
Media release and mugshot furnished by Barnstable Police

New mulch regulations start September 1st
STOW, MA - State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan and fire chiefs across the state want to alert building owners and managers about a new mulch safety regulation that takes effect this weekend. The regulation was developed in response to several fires in the Commonwealth involving mulch-wood products.

New Regulation on Mulch Safety

Starting on Saturday, September 1, 2012, the new application of mulch within 18” around combustible exteriors of buildings (such as wood or vinyl but not brick or concrete) is prohibited. Residential buildings with less than six units are exempted from this regulation, but all homeowners may also wish to adopt these safety practices.

Tips for Property Managers and Building Owners

Here are some tips for property managers and building owners on how to prevent mulch fires:
·         Keep wood mulch 18” away from combustible exteriors of buildings such as wood or vinyl siding. Don’t put it right up against the building.
·         Use something like pea stone or crushed rock for the first 18” as a barrier around the foundation of the building.
·         Provide proper receptacles for smoking materials.

Mulch is Combustible

Mulch is a combustible material that can be easily ignited by improperly discarded smoking materials. Hundreds of small and large fires are started this way every year. The risk is what starts as a small outside mulch fire can quickly spread to buildings and climb the exterior. The fire can get a good start before people are made aware by smoke alarms, sprinkler systems activating or someone notices.

Million Dollar Mulch Fire

The most notable fire occurred at a Peabody apartment complex in May 2008. A cigarette-lit mulch fire caused a $6.7 million loss, displaced 750 people temporarily and 36 residents of the apartments permanently.

In April 2012, improperly discarded smoking materials ignited mulch outside an assisted living center in Braintree. The fire forced the early morning evacuation of many older adults, some of whom suffered smoke inhalation injuries.

Be a Responsible Smoker

Put It Out. All the Way. Every Time.
·         Properly dispose of all smoking materials.
·         Use appropriate receptacles for smoking materials when provided.
·         Don’t discard cigarettes into mulch or potted plants.
·         At home, use ashtrays that won’t burn or catch fire and that a deep enough to contain butts. Wet them down before throwing out.
·         As more people smoke outdoors rather than inside, most building fires started by smoking begin on decks, porches, and exterior stairways.
·         So be smart in your choice of container for butts. Consider using metal cans with sand for outside disposal.
·         Dispose of cigarettes inside your motor vehicle; do not throw them out the window. Because of the risk of starting a fire, it is illegal to do so and punishable by a fine of $100 and/or thirty days imprisonment.

Storage and Manufacturing of Mulch

The new regulation also has safety requirements for those who store or manufacture mulch. It limits the size of mulch piles, requires a distance of 30-feet between piles, and limits the distance from the lot line to 25 feet. Large piles of mulch can easily spontaneously combust with all the heat they generate, so it’s important to be vigilant and employ good housekeeping. The distance between piles prevents a fire in one from easily spreading to another or to a building.

Permits Required to Store 300+ Cubic Yards of Mulch
Permits are required from the fire department wherever more than 300 cubic yards of mulch is produced or stored.
Media release furnished by Mass. Department of Fire Services

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