Newton Apartment Fire Leaves 8 Homeless

At 1:56PM on a Cold & windy Monday Afternoon on February 4^th Newton Fire Alarm struck Box 1251 for a report of fire in the walls of the apartment building at 25 Charlesbank Road. While enroute Companies were updated that they were receiving several calls and a report that a mother & child may be trapped.

C-2 arrived shortly after and reported fire showing from the 2^nd Floor on arrival. The Deputy soon requested a Working Fire bringing an additional Engine company to the fire. 7 Minutes later interior companies reported the fire had extended into the attic and the Deputy requested a 2^nd Alarm. I responded to the scene on the 2^nd Alarm and while enroute the Deputy requested a 3^rd Alarm. Approx 50 Firefighters battled the flames in the very cold and windy conditions for about an hour before finally bringing it under control.

3 People were transported to the hospital including a Adult Male with burns, a mother & child w/ smoke inhalation. 1 Firefighter was also injured when he fell from the attic of the building. The Newton Fire Department received mutual aid from Watertown, Waltham, Wellesley, Needham, Weston & Brookline for station coverage. Boston Engine 51 responded to the fire.

The fire remains under investigation but investigators belive a plumber working in a 2^nd Floor bathroom using a tourch may have started the fire. The American Red Cross is assisting the residents displaced by the fire as the building is considered a total loss.

                                           Heavy Smoke Showing

                                     Stretching a Line off Engine 14

                                            Fire Thru The Roof

                                     Newton Fire New Engine 10

                                   Newton Firefighters Changing Bottles