Small Fire at Historic Garage Near Union Square

The Somerville Fire Department Wednesday put out a small but smoky fire at 94 Prospect St., near Union Square, according to an email from Deputy Chief Charles Breen.

According to a report prepared in May for the Somerville Historic Preservation Commission, the building was built in 1917, and the report recommended the commission find the building historically and architecturally significant. 

According to Breen's email, firefighters responded to the vacant building at about 2:51 p.m. after someone pulled the fire alarm at Prospect and Oak streets.

The email says the fire was started by "careless use of a cutting torch being used to cut a large steel beam."

The torch ignited debris inside a construction dumpster located inside the building, Breen's email says.

After putting out the fire, firefighters remained on scene to ventilate smoke from the building, according to the email.

Earlier in the day, firefighters responded to a small fire at 407 Washington St. The fire was caused by a plastic rubbish barrel being placed too close to a heater, the email says.

Residents put out the fire, but firefighters ventilated smoke and made sure the fire didn't spread.