STONEHAM — Chief Matthew Grafton is pleased to report that Firefighter Thomas DeCroteau, who has 10 years of experience and numerous professional certifications, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant.

Lt. DeCroteau was hired by the Stoneham Fire Department in 2015, after he worked for two years as a call firefighter in Paxton while completing college. He is also a U.S. Coast Guard veteran who served board the USCGC Bollard.

Lt. DeCroteau has a Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Science and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration in Emergency Management from Anna Maria College.

He is certified as a Fire Instructor and Hazardous Materials Technician, and is a certified EMT. Lt. DeCroteau has also completed numerous Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Training Courses on the Incident Command System.

“Lt. DeCroteau has worked hard to continue his education and training in the fire service, better preparing himself to be a successful officer in this department,” said Chief Grafton. “I wish him luck and know he will succeed in his new role.”

STONEHAM — Fire Chief Matthew Grafton, Superintendent David Ljungberg and Department of Public Works Director Brett Gonsalves report that the Stoneham Fire Department responded Wednesday to about a dozen simultaneous fire alarms that went off around town as a result of an overpressurization of water lines.

The incident also caused a minor water main break on Spring Street. There was no other damage reported.

The incident began at approximately 11:20 a.m., when the Stoneham Police and Fire Dispatch Center began receiving approximately a dozen simultaneous automated fire alarms from Stoneham High School, Stoneham Central Middle School, the Robin Hood School, and several commercial and residential properties in town.

Initially unaware of what was happening, the Stoneham Fire Department, with mutual aid assistance from Reading, Wakefield and Melrose firefighters, responded to each of the alarms, prioritizing the schools first. There were no fires at any of the locations.

Approximately 25 minutes after the alarms sounded, it was determined that the automated alarms had been set off by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) overpressurizing water lines in Stoneham as part of an effort to flush those water lines. The overpressurization is also believed to have caused the minor water main break on Spring Street.

The Stoneham Fire Department, Stoneham Police Department, Stoneham Public Schools and the Stoneham DPW all worked together to respond to the incidents, with the large response being managed by the Stoneham Dispatch Center.

“This was initially an overwhelming incident for fire and dispatch, but both dispatchers and firefighters handled it terrifically,” said Chief Grafton. “Dispatchers kept close track of addresses as they came in, and worked closely with the Fire Department and mutual aid departments to communicate what was happening during the response. Fire Department officials communicated with school officials, Public Works, and the Facilities Department to determine the cause of this. Everyone involved did a really good job handling this situation, which was overwhelming at first. Fortunately, there were no actual fires or serious damage that occurred from this that we’re aware of.”