Early Morning House Fire Kills 1 and Sends 15 to Hospital in Allston

On Sunday April 28th 2013 at 6:33AM Boston Fire Alarm struck Box 514 for a report of a building fire at 87 Linden Street in Allston. This street has been the scene of many serious fires over the years. As first due Engine 41 & Ladder 14 pulled out of there station Fire Alarm advised companies they were "receiving calls". On arrival Ladder 14 called off with heavy smoke showing from the 2nd Floor and reported people were jumping from the upper floors and requested a 2nd Alarm.

Companies began arriving from all directions and pulled lines off Engine 41, Engine 51 & Engine 29 to begin an aggressive interior attack. District 11 arrived on scene and reported he had a fire in a 2 Story 30x32 Wood Frame w/ fire on 2nd floor and attic. Rescue 1 began a primary search of the building to search for any victims as companies began to attack the fire on the interior.

The fire had gained head way on the companies and around 6:45AM all companies were ordered to stay out of the attic. At 6:57AM the dreaded transmission came over the scanner "MAYDAY MAYDAY". A Member had fallen through a hole on the 2nd Floor down to the 1st Floor. Deputy Chief Dunbar activated the RIT (Rapid Intervention Team) and struck a 3rd Alarm. Firefighters quickly located the firefighter and brought him outside to Boston EMS. He was transported to a Boston Hospital with Non-Life Threatening Injuries.

Residents began advising Boston Police that some one was missing and possibly in the 2nd Floor or attic. Companies threw several ground ladders to the rear as the interior stairs had burned away. Rescue 1 began making another search of the building as companies began advancing lines. AT 7:12AM  Rescue 1 had a chilling transmission. As you heard a firefighter screaming in the background Rescue 1 said "RESCUE 1 MAYDAY MAYDAY WE HAVE A MAN THROUGH THE HOLE ON THE 2ND FLOOR MAN DOWN". A Member of Engine 29 fell through a hole on the 2nd Floor. Rescue 1 and other members of Engine 29 located the firefighter and brought him outside to Boston EMS.

With 2 Firefighters already injured falling through holes the Deputy gave up on interior operations and ordered all companies to evacuate the building. Companies went defensive and by 8AM they had the fire knocked down.

15 People were transported and treated by Boston EMS. 9 Were residents and 6 were Firefighters. Sadly a female victim was located deceased in the attic after the fire was knocked down. The fire remains under investigation at this time.

Fire Damages Trucks at Local Construction Company in Waltham

On Wednesday April 24th I had not photographed anything in a while and it had been quiet since the Marathon Bombings and Manhunt so I thought it would be another quiet night.

 Around 9PM I had just returned home from the Red Sox Game at Fenway. As I was relaxing sitting down to watch Chicago Fire at 10:10PM my scanner went off "Attention Engine 1, Engine 4, Ladder 2 and Rescue 6". I knew that response well it was a full assignment for a structure fire. Listening further it was Box 234 and it was being struck for 18 Fern Street J.J Obrien & Sons a Local construction contractor.

I went to my front window and from my 3rd floor apt I could see smoke in the distance meaning this was not a false alarm. The scanner went off again and Squad 5 as RIT and Medic 2 were dispatched. I began to grab all my gear as all the Moody Street companies raced past my house.

Engine 4 arrived on scene first finding 2 construction trucks on fire with one fully involved in the driveway only feet from a 2.5 Story Wood Frame Dwelling. C-2 requested a Feeder to be laid as the fire was threatening to spread to the house. Firefighers stretched 2 lines off Engine 4 quickly containing the fire to the 2 trucks.

The fire remains under investigation at this time.