Harwich Fire Department

02/03/2026

Today Group 1 took advantage of the weather and the ice to practice our ice rescue techniques.

They drllled at Saquatucket Harbor, where there was both ice and open water, which is more typical of our ice conditions.

One of the most important things our firefighters do is training. Whether on duty or at fire academy classes or conferences, it takes constant work to maintain skills, keep up with changes and work toward being the best firefighter you can be.

02/02/2026

This year, the Harwich, Chatham, Orleans, and Eastham Health and Environmental Departments are coming together to host a collaborative community fair focused on health, wellness, and environmental awareness.
Event Details:
📍 Location: 204 Cultural Arts Municipal Building, Harwich
📅 Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
🕚 Time: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
The fair will bring together local organizations, programs, and businesses to share resources, education, and presentations with community members of all ages. Please be sure to view and share the attached event flyer.

Harwich Council on Aging
Harwich Chamber of Commerce
Harwich Fire Association, Inc.
Harwich Professional Firefighters Local 2124
Harwich Water Department
Harwich Recreation
Harwich Health Department
The Harwich Channel
Harwich Community Center
Harwich Police

02/02/2026

Re-post: Route 134 (East-West Dennis Road) Construction Detour

The Town of Dennis would like to inform you of upcoming overnight construction activities on Route 134 (East-West Dennis Road) associated with ongoing sewer improvements.

As part of this work, Route 134 will be fully closed between Main Street and Theophilus F. Smith Road, including the area in front of Patriots Square, beginning on February 2, 2026, and is expected to continue through March 27, 2026.

Town of Dennis
Dennis Police Department

Route 134 (East-West Dennis Road) Construction Detour

The Town of Dennis would like to inform you of upcoming overnight construction activities on Route 134 (East-West Dennis Road) associated with ongoing sewer improvements.

As part of this work, Route 134 will be fully closed between Main Street and Theophilus F. Smith Road, including the area in front of Patriots Square, beginning on February 2, 2026, and is expected to continue through March 27, 2026. All construction activities and associated traffic control will occur overnight between the hours of 7:00 PM and 5:00 AM, from Sunday evening until Friday morning. Route 134 will be reopened to traffic during daytime hours.

During the overnight work period, the Route 6 Exit 78A (old Exit 9A) off-ramps, both eastbound and westbound, will be temporarily closed in order to prevent traffic from being directed into the active work zone. Signed detour routes will be in place during these hours. General traffic will be directed to use Bob Crowell Road, Old Bass River Road, Main Street, and Upper County Road. A designated overnight truck route will also be provided, directing trucks to use Airline Road, Old Chatham Road, Depot Street, Great Western Road, and Upper County Road. The attached map illustrates the aforementioned overnight detour routes.

Local access to residences and businesses will be maintained to the greatest extent possible throughout construction. The Town of Dennis understands that this work may be inconvenient and appreciates the patience and cooperation of residents, business owners, and the traveling public as these important infrastructure improvements are completed.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at mlavin@town.dennis.ma.us or (508)760-6620.

02/02/2026

TODAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2026, IS YOUR LAST DAY TO LICENSE YOUR DOG OR REGISTER YOUR KENNEL WITHOUT A LATE FEE!!

If you have not licensed your dogs or registered your kennel yet, please get down to the Town Clerks Office TODAY to avoid late fees and citations.

The Town Clerk extended the licensing to today due to the snow day last week. After today there will be a $25.00 late fee PER DOG.

02/01/2026

Sunday Morning Update

No real change from yesterday, which is a good thing.

The wind has already started to pick up and we can expect gust up to 50mph throughout the day. The strongest wind should be this afternoon. Since we've had winds like this all fall and winter, we aren't too concerned about power loss, but Eversource MA has increased their readiness in case there are issues.

Snow will start at some point in the morning hours with only 1 to 2 inches predicted. Based on this storm and how sensitive our totals are to the storm track, we wouldn't be surprised if there is more....or less.

We still don't anticipate a significant impact from this storm.

Thanks to US National Weather Service Boston MA for the slides and forecast

The storm clears out tomorrow and we warm up to just below freezing.

There are other storms in forecast for later this week and next weekend, but it is way too early to contemplate their impact.

Harwich Chamber of Commerce
Harwich Fire Association, Inc.
Harwich Professional Firefighters Local 2124
Harwich Water Department
Harwich Firehouse #2
Harwich Recreation
Cape Cod Regional Technical High School
Monomoy Regional School District
Harwich Health Department
Harwich Police
Harwich Animal Control
Harwich Elementary PTO
Harwich Community Center
The Harwich Channel
Brooks Free Library
Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee
Harwich Council on Aging

01/31/2026

Saturday afternoon update:

I guess the good news is the storm is heading further east. The bad news, no one is exactly sure how far east it will go.

Based on the latest information from the US National Weather Service Boston MA snow is expected to start overnight sometime between 3 and 6 am.

We should still expect 40 mph winds and accumulations could be 2 to 3 inches.

The unknown is the exact track of the storm and how much the ocean effect will contribute to the final totals.

This may be one of those storms where the forecast is based on how much snow is on the ground on Monday.

We will continue to watch the forecast and try to make sense of it. We aren’t assuming it will be nothing, but don’t think it will be anywhere near the storm they were predicting.

Harwich Police
Harwich Chamber of Commerce
Harwich Health Department
Harwich Community Center
Harwich Youth and Family Services
Harwich Animal Control
Harwich Fire Association, Inc.
Harwich Professional Firefighters Local 2124
Harwich Water Department
The Harwich Channel
Harwich Recreation
Brooks Free Library
Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee
Eversource MA
Friends of the Harwich Council on Aging

01/31/2026

Don’t let a winter storm take you by surprise! Here is a list of essentials to have when a winter storm is in the forecast. ❄️☃️

Harwich Police
Harwich Chamber of Commerce
Harwich Youth and Family Services
Harwich Health Department
Harwich Community Center
Harwich Animal Control

01/31/2026

We can expect drifting snow with this next storm, please take a moment and check your furnace and gas dryers vents as well as your gas meter.

Keeping them clear will prevent Carbon Monoxide or Natural Gas from accumulating in you house.

01/31/2026

Saturday Morning Storm Update - Plan for the worst, hope for the best.

PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH ANYONE YOU THINK WOULD BENEFIT FROM IT. WE REALIZE NOT EVERYONE HAS SOCIAL MEDIA.

All the latest from US National Weather Service Boston MA and our Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee weather folks has the worst of the storm sliding farther east. For the rest of Massachusetts that means no snow and little wind.

For the Cape it means less snow and weaker winds, but it doesn't mean we won't get either.

While the final track is uncertain, we should expect 4 to 6 inches of snow and winds in the 30 mph range. What the forecast amounts have not taken into account is ocean effect snow, which could provide additional accumulation.

At this point there is no plan to open shelters prior to the storm. We will monitor conditions and work with the Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee if there is a need post storm.

We have plans for a warming center post storm if needed. Details will be provided if it is going to be open.

Eversource MA is monitoring the storm and increasing their readiness as well.

Harwich DPW has done a great job during this week clearing the roads and making room for tomorrows snowfall. Considering the amount of snow we had last week, their job wasn't a small one and they have done outstanding work.

Harwich Police and Fire will add additional staffing and are prepared for the storm. However our messaging is the same, if you don't think you'll be able to stay in your house for 24 to 48 hours, you should make alternate arrangements for this storm. Without a shelter being open, there are limited options if you lose power during the storm, plus conditions may hinder our ability to get to you during the storm.

As always, if you need assistance, call 9-1-1 and we will help in whatever way possible.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND INFORMATION:

Report Power Out: 1-800-592-2000

Eversource Outage Map:
https://outagemap.eversource.com/external/default.html

Sign Up for Power Outage Notifications
https://www.eversource.com/residential/outages/outage-alerts

Safety and preparedness tips for nor’easters and coastal storms: https://www.mass.gov/.../noreaster-coastal-storm-safety-tips

Power outage preparedness and safety information: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/power-outage-safety-tips
Flood safety tips: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/flood-safety-tips

Personal preparedness tips and additional storm preparedness resources are provided at www.bcrepc.org

Harwich Chamber of Commerce
Harwich Fire Association, Inc.
Harwich Professional Firefighters Local 2124
Harwich Water Department
Harwich Recreation
Harwich Health Department
Harwich Animal Control
Harwich Youth and Family Services
Harwich Community Center
The Harwich Channel
Friends of the Harwich Council on Aging
Brooks Free Library

01/30/2026

If you lose power from a winter storm, make sure your fridge and freezer doors stay closed. You may need to rely on nonperishable foods as food in the fridge can only stay safe for a few hours.

Harwich Police
Harwich Chamber of Commerce
Harwich Youth and Family Services
Harwich Health Department
Harwich Community Center
Harwich Animal Control

01/30/2026

Upcoming detour for the Town of Dennis that will impact Harwich.

Route 134 (East-West Dennis Road) Construction Detour

The Town of Dennis would like to inform you of upcoming overnight construction activities on Route 134 (East-West Dennis Road) associated with ongoing sewer improvements.

As part of this work, Route 134 will be fully closed between Main Street and Theophilus F. Smith Road, including the area in front of Patriots Square, beginning on February 2, 2026, and is expected to continue through March 27, 2026. All construction activities and associated traffic control will occur overnight between the hours of 7:00 PM and 5:00 AM, from Sunday evening until Friday morning. Route 134 will be reopened to traffic during daytime hours.

During the overnight work period, the Route 6 Exit 78A (old Exit 9A) off-ramps, both eastbound and westbound, will be temporarily closed in order to prevent traffic from being directed into the active work zone. Signed detour routes will be in place during these hours. General traffic will be directed to use Bob Crowell Road, Old Bass River Road, Main Street, and Upper County Road. A designated overnight truck route will also be provided, directing trucks to use Airline Road, Old Chatham Road, Depot Street, Great Western Road, and Upper County Road. The attached map illustrates the aforementioned overnight detour routes.

Local access to residences and businesses will be maintained to the greatest extent possible throughout construction. The Town of Dennis understands that this work may be inconvenient and appreciates the patience and cooperation of residents, business owners, and the traveling public as these important infrastructure improvements are completed.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at mlavin@town.dennis.ma.us or (508)760-6620.