Resident Honored for Helping Save Firefighters, Solve Arson Case

Above: Honoree Gene Piermattei recounts the series of events the morning of the May 2014 fire as (from left) Trooper Sheryl O’Donnell, Police Chief Molis, Fire Chief Colangeli and Ron Meehan of the MPIUA. Photo courtesy of Paul Hammersley:

By all accounts it was a terrible fire one morning in May of 2014.

Two families escaped the three-alarm blaze at the two-family home at 63 Converse Avenue. Two Firefighters were injured, all property was lost and what was left of the house was later demolished. Fire Chief Jack Colangeli noted the difficulty in fighting the fire was because all three floors were fully engulfed upon arrival at the scene. Adding to the challenge was that a tenant who occupied a third floor bedroom was missing, prompting firefighters to activate a search and rescue operation.

Haverhill resident Gene Piermattei was traveling to work on the MBTA Orange line that day. He sat next to a young man incoherently muttering that he had just burned down a house in Malden.

Piermattei followed the young man off the train and told MBTA officials what he heard and was assured that MBTA surveillance caught the man on camera. Upon returning home from work that evening, Piermattei learned of the fire in Malden and called Malden Police.

Police reviewed of the MBTA’s surveillance footage, and the individual was brought in for questioning. The man was arrested and is serving time in prison for his actions.

For his heroic efforts and perseverance, Piermattei was presented with a $5,000 reward by Ron Meehan of the Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association and the State Fire Marshal’s Office. State Trooper Sheryl O’Donnell of the Massachusetts State Police Detective Fire and Explosion Investigation Section, Mayor Gary Christenson, Fire Chief Jack Colangeli and Police Chief Kevin Molis also participated in the celebration to congratulate the man on a job well done.

“Gene has clearly demonstrated that one person can make a tremendous difference,” said Fire Chief Jack Colangeli. “The sad truth is that Malden Firefighters were in harm’s way during a horrible fire searching for a person who wasn’t there – the person who had started the fire and left.”

The Arson Watch Reward Program is funded by the property and casualty insurance underwriting companies in Massachusetts and is administered by the Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association, also known as the MA-RI FAIR Plan. The program presents rewards of up to $5,000 for information that helps solve arson crimes and also sponsors the Arson Watch Hotline: 1-800-682-9229.

“I commend Gene for not only paying attention, but for following through, which directly led to the arrest of an arsonist,” said Mayor Christenson. “His getting involved was crucial to justice being served.”

Account courtesy of Malden city officials.