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Three-alarm fire rips through Somerville building; firefighters hampered by cold, snow
By adamg on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 12:55pm
UPDATE: Two dead.
AlertNewEngland reports a fire in a two-family home at 46 Fairfax St. early this afternoon quickly went to three alarms; one resident was brought out in "traumatic arrest." Firefighters at first had trouble just finding hydrants in the snow; State Police shut the nearby Alewife Brook Parkway to give firefighters a place to park their trucks.
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Comments
smoke was visible from the
smoke was visible from the top of the Pru. I wondered what it was.
it was a duplex
around the corner from me. lots of firetrucks, rt 16 closed... but they had it under control quickly... looks like most of the damage is towards the front of the house and the upper floor. trucks from s'ville, medf, chels, and everett.
Digging out hydrants is usually a priority
I'm surprised the hydrants weren't already dug out. When I was a kid, immediately after a storm, the fire department would hire some high school kids for the day, drive them around, and have them dig out hydrants.
That was awhile ago. Any idea how it's done now? I think I have occasionally heard pleas from the fire department asking people to dig out any hydrants near them.
Cambridge just has the crews take turns digging
On my walks to and from work the other day, I passed pairs of guys in Cambridge FD turnout kit walking along with shovels clearing hydrants.
Honestly, I'm surprised abutters aren't responsible for this as well.
Actually, the Somerville FD
Actually, the Somerville FD was driving around on Saturday and they put the final touches on the hydrant next door.
Blue reflectors
I've been in plenty of communities (outside of MA) where the hydrants are marked on the street by a blue reflector in between the double-yellow line running down the middle of the street. If you're not looking for them, you'll usually miss them, but if you need a hydrant, they can be your best friend.
What would it take for Somerville/Cambridge/Brookline/Boston to implement such a trivial technology?
Good question, Kaz.
It would probably take a crisis of massive proportions resulting as a consequences of not seeing the hydrant(s).
2 deaths
the globe reports there were 2 deaths... an elderly woman and her middle aged son :(
Two dead in Fairfax Street fire in Somerville
reports the Somerville News, quoting city spokeswoman Jackie Rossetti.
This was the second fatal house fire in Somerville in the past seven days.
They ask that residents help
They ask that residents help dig out the fire hydrants which I am fine with. We can all take an extra 10 minutes to help our community.