Shortly after 3 p.m., Boston Fire tweeted:
Report on Box 3547: Confirmed Building Fire, L6 reports heavy fire on roof, 1 line charged at this time
Which is a little meaningless unless you happen to be either right there or in possession of a list of Boston fire boxes.
Firebufffeed to the rescue: Whoever runs that does have a list of Boston fire boxes and translates the above to: a three-story apartment building at 563-565 Norfolk St. (in Mattapan).
UPDATE: The feed is now gone. A Boston firefighter had set it up after seeing what the Boston Police Department was doing, not knowing BFD was about to launch an official site, at twitter.com/bostonfire.
The Boston Fire Department is now on Twitter.
Earlier:
Boston Police jump on Twitter.
Following the success of the Boston Police, The Boston Fire Department is now on Twitter.
This Twitter feed will be updated with information on citywide fire related emergencies whenever possible. Come join us!
The Globe reports the Fire Department's truck maintenance just completely sucks (story has a link to the complete report).
But the Herald thought it warranted the front page to announce a mutual admiration society between upset Hub jakes and Michael Flaherty.
In 1968, firefighter William Carroll rescued a baby, Evangeline Harper, from a burning building:
A newspaper photograph captured their image - a white firefighter from South Boston with his lips pressed to the mouth of a black baby from the Roxbury public housing development - at a time when riots sparked by racial tensions were burning down American cities.
Over 40 years later, they are reunited.
NECN reports on a hearing called by City Councilor (and mayoral candidate) Sam Yoon; firefighter union head Ed Kelly blames Menino for Kevin Kelley's death.
Channel 4 reports that Engine 22 (South End) and Ladder 21 (East Boston) were pulled out of service for repairs today.
That makes nine trucks taken out for emergency repairs following the death of Kevin Kelley on Jan. 9.
Fire officials say the Peterborough Street fire was probably caused by a short circuit in the ceiling of Thornton's and that the fatal crash of Ladder 26 was probably caused by brake failure.
The Globe calls up Raybo (who, you may recall, had a special relationship with firefighters, who let him do stuff like run into burning buildings).
This map shows ladder and engine trucks that have had to be removed from service since the Jan. 9 crash that killed Lt. Kevin Kelley (click on an icon to a link for more info; note that one of the icons is obscured by the word "map," move the map to see it). Most have been returned to service after repairs. The Globe reports Mayor Menino has ordered the Fire Department to hire licensed mechanics to maintain the trucks, rather than outsourcing maintenance to private companies.
Thanks to Brett for the suggestion to do a map. If I'm missing any trucks, let me know.
After an outside consultant hired by the local firefighters union found problems yesterday, the Globe reports.
The Globe reports on what has now become obvious after three incidents - one fatal - over the past few days. Keep reading the story to see how maintenance is, naturally, a football between the city and the firefighters union, with each blaming the other for the problem.
Channel 4 reports that Ladder 14 in Allston, built in 1993, was pulled from service this morning.
Photo of Ladder 14 outside station 41 at 460 Cambridge St.
Earlier:
Another Boston ladder truck careens out of control - Sunday.
Did Lt. Kelley die due to bad brakes?
The Herald reports Ladder 15 crashed into a parked car on Mass. Ave on the way for some maintenance today. Nobody hurt.
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