Saturday, March 24, 2012

Saturday Morning Crash Sends Five To Hospital In Waltham

At 10:42AM on Saturday March 24th as I was still waking up my scanner went off reporting a motor vehicle accident with reported injuries at the Intersection of Lowell Street & High Street in Waltham. Being only 4 Blocks away I knew the intersection well and listened to the scanner as a Police Cruiser came flying up the street responding to the scene. The first arriving police officer reported they had a 3 car motor vehicle accident with injuries but unknown how many. Squad 5 arrived on scene after and then AMR Ambulance 1. The AMR unit requested more Units for multiple injuries. Hearing this I grabbed my camera and took the walk to the scene. Once on scene C-2 (Deputy Chief) was arriving as well as AMR Medic 1. I observed medics and firefighters working to package two small children. Another AMR unit was requested and AMR Medic 4 responded. A Adult female was being packaged for transport. The Deputy soon requested another BLS unit to the scene for an Adult Male and AMR Ambulance 2 responded. Total 4 Victims (Two Children, Adult Male & Elderly Female) was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Also an Adult Female was transported to Emerson Hospital in Concord. The crash is under investigation by the Waltham Police Department.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Boston Firefighters Battle 4 Alarm Warehouse Fire in Roxbury

At 10:11PM on a Mild Wednesday Night Boston Fire struck Box 1712 for a reported building fire on Norfolk Avenue in Roxbury. Multiple calls were being received by fire alarm reporting the fire. Engine 14 arrived soon after and advised they had heavy fire showing from the upper floors of the 40x100 Vacant Warehouse building. A 2nd Alarm was transmitted soon after. Ladder 4 found an X on the building and the District Chief ordered all companies out of the building and transmitted a 3rd Alarm. Companies began hitting the fire with deck guns and ladder pipes as heavy fire shot through the roof. C-7 arrived soon after and transmitted a 4th Alarm. Companies at this time have knocked down the fire and are now in the process of overhauling the very large warehouse building. There are reports that a squatter was rescued from the building but that has not been confirmed at this time. The fire is in the same complex as the Massive 9 Alarm blaze in August 2010.

                                         Photo by Twitter user @BostonFire

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Manhole Explosion on Main Street Causes Power Surge in Waltham

Just before 11:30AM on Sunday March 18th the power surged and went out at my house and then came right back on. Alarms started ringing into 911 for hold up alarms at 1 Moody Street sounding due to the surge. Seconds later my scanner went off stating the Fire Department was transmitting Box 258 for 1275 Main Street for multiple 911 calls reporting a manhole explosion with fire. C-2, Engine 2, Engine 4, Ladder 1 & Rescue 6 along with police responded.

Engine 4 on arrival called off with light smoke showing from a manhole cover. The Deputy Chief arrived soon after and requested Nstar to respond and police to close Main Street to traffic. Engine 4 stretched a 1 3/4" line off the pumper and filled the manhole with water to cool the transformer. Dispatch advised OIC they were now getting calls for a possible problem at the Nstar power substation across the street. Companies were sent over and investigated and found nothing wrong.

An Nstar repair crew arrived just after noon and the fire department cleared soon after that.



Friday, March 16, 2012

Pedestrian Struck & Killed By Pickup Truck in Waltham

At 3:23PM on Friday March 16th 911 calls were received for a Pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle on Beaver Street at Bentley University.  Waltham Police, Bentley Police, C-2, Rescue 6 & AMR Medic 1 & Ambulance 1 responded. The Deputy Chief requested Medflight but they were not flying due to Weather.

Bystanders began CPR on the 23-Year old female victim before Emergency crews arrived. Rescue 6 arrived on scene with the female unconscious and unresponsive. Firefighters & Medics started CPR on the female victim. They packaged and transported her to Newton-Wellesley Hospital with serious injuries.

She was latter transferred from Newton-Wellesley Hospital to Beth Israel Deconess Medical Center in Boston with Life-Threatening Injuries. She later died from her injuries.

The Accident is under investigation by the Waltham Police Department.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Major Transformer Explosion Causes 3-Alarm Fire and Mass Power Outage in Boston Backbay

At 6:30PM on March 13th 2012 Boston Engine 33 called off with heavy smoke showing after a explosion at the Hilton Hotel across from Engine 33 & Ladder 15's Quarters. Box 1568 was transmitted and a full assignment responded. Car 6 while responding transmitted a 2nd Alarm for heavy smoke in the distance. Companies soon went in to investigate and discovered a large electrical transformer was on fire Next to the Hilton. Nstar was immediately requested to the scene. About 13 Minutes in Nstar was asked to expedite its response. About 30 Minutes in heavy fire was now blowing out the grate in the garage. A 3rd Alarm was transmitted. Nstar shut off the power to the two 115,000 Volt transformers shutting down power to the Backbay, Colpey & Kenmore Square areas. Around 8PM a call was made for foam to the fire and Massport Responded with Foam. Companies finally brought the fire under control around 9PM. Companies are now going through Decon and clean harbors is responding.

Roads Closed: Pike (I-90) Closed EB, Storrow Drive EB also closed.

Boston Firefighters Battle 2 Alarm Blaze on Mass Ave

At 4:37PM Boston Fire struck Box 159 for a reported fire at the corner of Haviland Street & Massachusetts Avenue in the Back Bay. Ladder 15 called off with smoke showing from a 4 Story Brick Building with fire on the 1st Floor. Engine 33 quickly stretched a line and reported a fire in the bar. At 4:54PM District 4 Chief requested a 2nd Alarm. Companies brought the fire under control within 30 Minutes and contained the damage to the first floor. No injuries were reported.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Serious Accident in Newton Sends Two To Hospital In Boston

At 9:13PM Newton Ma 911 began receiving calls for a 3 car motor vehicle accident with injuries at Vine Street & Lagrange Street. C-2, Engine 10, Ladder 2 & Medic 1 responded. While responding companies were updated that one of the victims was unconscious.

 On arrival Engine 10 reported a three car motor vehicle accident at the intersection. Companies soon confirmed entrapment of two parties in a sedan. The Jaws of Life were requested and another Ambulance was requested to the scene. Companies cut the two victims out and extricated them after 24 Minutes. Both Victims were transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston with unknown injuries. The accident is under investigation by the Newton Police Department.

                                 Photo Courtesy of Twitter user @psyton


                                Photo Courtesy @firephoto161 (S. Walsh)

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Boston Firefighters Battle Large Brush Fire In Fenway

Around 3PM Boston Fire dispatched Engine 37 to the report of a brush fire behind 59 The Fenway the Boston Fire Alarm office. Engine 37 on arrival requested for Box 5191 be struck for a large brush fire. On arrival of the District chief a 2nd Alarm was requested. As of this writing companies are trying to stop the rapid spread of fire.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Serious Accident in Waltham Sends One To Mass General, Knocks out Power to Area

At 11:20PM on Wednesday Night March 7th Waltham 911 dispatch received a call for a single motor vehicle accident vs Telephone Pole In front of 70 Third Avenue (The Westin Hotel) with wires down. Police, C-2, Engine 2 & AMR Medic 1 were dispatched. Engine 2 arrived on scene and reported a single vehicle accident with two telephone poles down with live wires on the ground and across the car with no power in the area. Nstar was quickly requested to the scene to expedite there response. C-2 arrived on scene and reported they had live wires down and they were unable to reach the victim with live wires down. 


While this was happening 911 Dispatch received a call for a person stuck in the elevator at the Westin Hotel. Rescue 6 & Ladder Tower 1 were dispatched. C-2 soon requested the availability of Med Flight in case the injuries were serious. An additional AMR ALS unit was requested to the scene. Nstar soon arrived on scene and killed the power. Rescue 6 was requested by command with lights due to no power. Ladder Tower 1 Extricated the party from the elevator in the Hotel while Firefighters and EMT's extricated the victim who was conscious & alert. The victim was packaged and transported to Mass General Hospital with unknown injuries.


Third Avenue has been closed by Waltham Police and will remain closed for several hours as Nstar continues repair work. The Accident Remains Under Investigation at this time.