21 Years Since Historic Route 9 Fire That Killed 5: Patch PM

MASSACHUSETTS — It's Tuesday, Feb. 9. Here's what you should know this afternoon:

• When it comes to voting, was 2020 the new normal? Mail-in voting and expanded early voting, as well as same-day voter registration, could soon be permanent in Massachusetts.
• Andrew Lelling’s days as the U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts are reportedly numbered now that President Biden is in office — but changing federal prosecutors is typical when there’s a party change in the White House.
• A police chief has been placed on leave following an allegation that he misused his authority.

Scroll down for those and other stories Patch has been covering in Massachusetts today.

Monday’s Top Story

If you were in greater Boston on Feb. 9, 2000, you likely remember hearing about this fire. Twenty-one years ago Today, a fire broke out in a Route 9 business complex in Chestnut Hill, killing five people and a dog — becoming one of the deadliest fires in Newton's history.

"I put this right up there with the Starck incident [the 1993 chemical plant fire on Needham Street in which 11 firefighters were injured] because of the magnitude and loss of life and injury and the number of communities involved: Brookline, Watertown and other communities helped us get it under control," Newton Fire Chief Gino Lucchetti said Tuesday. "This ranks really high of all-time big fires in Newton in modern times."

Dozens of people made it out in time, thanks to firefighters, but five did not. The cause was never determined, and the owner of the building was taken to court and found negligent in a civil trial regarding several fire code violations. Read the rest of the story.

Nearby News

• Newton Mayor To Address City Challenges In State Of City Speech
• Waltham Anti-LGTBQ Organization Listed As Hate Group
• Waltham Schools Aim To Return Students To Hybrid By Mid March

Today’s Other Top Stories In Massachusetts

Putting his stamp on voting: Secretary of State William Galvin announced Tuesday he will introduce legislation that would make permanent mail-in voting and expanded early voting — measures put in place during the pandemic — as well as allowing for same-day voter registration and early voting in local elections. The pandemic changes worked: A record 3,657,972 voted in November, with more than 1.5 million of those voting by mail and 844,000 early in-person.

Biden To Ask Lelling To Resign: U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Andrew Lelling is among the federal prosecutors the Biden administration will ask to step down as early as Tuesday, according to multiple reports. The new president is asking nearly all prosecutors appointed by his predecessor to resign, save for a handful currently working sensitive cases, in a changeover that typically occurs when a new party wins the White House.

Police chief put on leave: Milford Police Chief Michael Pighetti was placed on administrative leave on Monday night by the Select Board while the town investigates an allegation he misused his police powers, according to town officials. According to WBZ, the town is investigating whether Pighetti pulled over a driver and ordered officers to give them a ticket. The Select Board met in executive session on Monday to discuss "complaints concerning an employee" — but the agenda did not refer to Pighetti by name.

Search for missing boy continues: State police returned to the icy Connecticut River on Tuesday to continue their search for an 11-year-old boy who was last seen walking toward a boat launch on Friday morning. Aiden Blanchard was last seen just before noon Friday along Old Field Road in Chicopee's Willimansett neighborhood. State police believe he was headed for a boat launch at the end of Medina Street. Local and state police have been out searching for the boy ever since, using boats, drones and divers to comb the Connecticut and Chicopee rivers. Police do not believe Blanchard was the victim of a crime.

By The Numbers

6: That’s how many feet of social distancing is recommended — and one superintendent is taking it as just that, a recommendation. Marblehead Superintendent John Buckey says it gives the district flexibility to consider lowering that distance inside schools to allow for additional students in classrooms at the same time.

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• Salem Shooting Suspect Arrested In Malden
• Trustee Judith Kelley Resigns From Woburn Public Library Board

Photo of the week

Newton resident Barry Wanger caught this photo of sunset from the 14th Floor of The Towers in Chestnut Hill recently —before the snow. Remember that? A time before snow.

If you have a stunning photo of your town, post it in your Patch neighbor post section, include when and where you took the photo and a note giving us permission to use it if it's selected as a photo of the week.