Belmont Fire Log: Unknown Cause To Patio Blaze

Steam heat

May 13 – At little after half past 2 p.m., all equipment in the Belmont Fire Department arsenal was sent to the tall condo building in Cushing Square for reports that smoke was emulating from the structure. But it turns out that the white cloud coming from the ground floor vent was actually steam.

Going ... nowhere

May 14 – Just before 4 p.m., fire crews were sent to the Town Hall complex for an incident in the Homer Building: that would be the structure with all the town offices located on Moore Street. Turns out they were there to help a person (or persons) stuck in the elevator. Happily, everyone got out without incident. The elevator was shut down and handed over to town officials and a technician from Associated Elevator Company.

Unknown cause to patio blaze

May 15 – Very early in the morning, at 10 past 3 a.m., fire crews were sent to a dwelling on Falmouth Street for a report of a building fire. Companies rushed onto the rear porch and saw that a fire had raced onto structural members of the basement. The house was filled with smoke and crews made a search of the interior for any unaccounted occupant. Engine 1 and Ladder 1 stretched a 200-foot hose from the trucks to extinguish the fire. All occupants were accounted for upon our arrival and had evacuated the house. Watertown Engine 2 assisted extinguishing and were released shortly after the fire was out. The Ladder 1 crew used a saw to open up the exterior walls of the house to check for extension and Engine 1 did the same on the interior. The fire investigation unit, made up a members of the fire and police departments, was called to the scene who began conducting a preliminary investigation and interviews with the homeowner and occupants. The cause is under investigation at this time. The electrical inspector and building inspector were called to the scene and conducted their assessments. The building was turned back over to the homeowners.

X marks the spot

May 15 – Just after 10 a.m., a senior fire official was on Alma Avenue when he detected an odor of natural gas in the air. He didn't have to look hard for the vent as it was marked on the street by the gas company. The official requested that company workers respond to the scene. Neighbor said that the fire department has responded to this location several times in the past and the gas company was recently working in the street.