Fire Log: Gas Leak On Trapelo

In the front door

Sept. 6 – At 3:08 p.m., Engine 2, Ladder 1, and other rescue units were dispatched to Randolph Street to investigate the private fire alarm system activation. Upon arrival, firefighters determined that the residence was unoccupied at the time. Personnel noticed the alarm company's key box and came through the front door. Inside, firefighters could not find any smoke or fire; there was no known reason for the activation.  The house was re-secured.

The friendly fire again

Sept. 6 – At 7:43 p.m., units were dispatched to Willow Street to investigate a reported outside campfire. The incident was determined to be a special outside "friendly" fire.

Resetting problems

Sept. 7 – At 7:13 a.m., Engine 2, Ladder 1 and other units were dispatched to Wellington Elementary School's modular units to investigate the fire alarm system activation. Apparently, a school electrician accidentally set off the pull station, silenced the alarm and reset the system prior to our arrival. The electrician was advised by command not to silence or reset the system in the future.

Not Games today

Sept. 7 – At 8:22 a.m., firefighters were dispatched to Lane and Games on Route 2 just over the Cambridge town line responding to an alarm from the bowling alley. Engine 1 was returning from an incident on Route 2 east when Cambridge Fire received an alarm for Lane and Games located at 195 Concord Turnpike. Belmont's Engine 1 was told respond in place of an Arlington engine due to Engine 1's location on the highway. Engine 1 arrived with Cambridge units and investigated the building. They found nothing at the location that would cause the alarm to be set.  The manager states that he had just lost water at the property. Although the firebox from where the alarm originated was painted shut, the set switch was flipped and the box disturbed.  There was an alarm going off in the sprinkler room due to the loss in water pressure in the area. Cambridge Fire reported that a water main had been shut.

Wet top to bottom 

Sept. 8 – At 2:24 a.m., units were dispatched to Sycamore Street for a water problem. A quick connect braided pipe under a sink on the second floor broke, allowing water to leak through the second floor onto the first floor and into the basement. The water to the broken pipe was shut down.  All the electrical lighting and outlets that had gotten wet were shut down at the panel. The property owner was instructed to contact an electrician.

Gas problem on Trapelo

Sept. 11 – At 9:27 a.m., BFD units were dispatched to Trapelo Road and White Street to investigate the outside odor of natural gas. The Belmont Municipal Light Department was on scene prior to the Fire Department's arrival performing work and it was this crew from the Light Department reported a heavy odor of gas. Companies traced the odor to a manhole in the street. Upon removing the manhole cover, the CGI displayed readings of 100 percent evidence of natural gas.  The commander on the scene called back to the station and requested that the gas company respond to the scene. While awaiting the arrival of the gas company, companies checked all of the surrounding businesses and the CGI displayed normal readings in each.  The gas company arrived on scene and the incident was determined to be an underground gas leak. 

Units were sent back to the site after the gas company departed: they forgot to put the manhole cover back in its place. Firefighters completed the job.