Posted on 12/03/2016 1:06:12 PM PST by Pearls Before Swine
There is a massive nine-alarm fire blazing in Cambridge near Berkshire and York Streets.
Nine alarms are the most that can be called. Firefighters from communities well outside the area being called in. Cambridge police are asking that the public avoid the area.
Multiple buildings are on fire, including a church. At least one building has reportedly collapsed.
Fire companies from all corners are on-scene to assist, including from Boston, Newton, Waltham and Wakefield.
We have some wonderful historic buildings here, but they do burn well.
Exactly. I lived on Boylston St. Down toward Fenway Park...I well remember the nonsense of traffic. That was early 70’s...and it only got worse with each municipal “improvement”.
Just read one building has collapsed in Cambridge fire.
I thought the same thing. Maybe were just paranoid.
We may be. Other freepers are right to mention Xmas lights and those heaters.
I don’t know what you mean by that, but Boston is more the same than it is changed. The article that I referenced is an example of that.
Back when these structures were built or got electricity, the power bill was called the “light bill”.
That is about all the load these systems could handle when new. and no electrical wiring gets better with age/
Now people are pulling max load on these systems due to all the consumer electronics (giant flat TVs are energy hogs), resistance heaters, and whatever they can plug in the wall.
I have seen and worked on some wiring from the 50s, and it is downright scary.
LOL!
That is a very important point. In Boston, Cambridge, and surrounding cities a lot of the buildings were built in the late 1800s or early 1900s before modern framing designs which include fire stops. A lot of triple deckers in Boston have old style balloon framing, and fires spread quickly within the wood frames.
Winter. Ill prepared heaters, added electrical of Christmas lights, uncleaned fireplaces, homeless camp fires, dying plants, dried leaves.
Was that a ‘copter or a drone? They went to the 5pm news now.
Quite right.
Ed Baur
@pain24seven
8m
Cambridge - Officer down due to smoke inhalation - also fire thru the roof in one of the 3 deckers #WCVB pic.twitter.com/ME2ZhBafim
View photo ·
OMG!
In my entire long life, I’ve never ever heard of a 9 alarmer!
this could be extremely serious?
I believe it’s a news copter.
The Boston area has had some huge fires in the past, including one which destroyed a major portion of the city of Chelsea, and another one which destroyed a collection of old mill buildings in Lynn. At that time systems were set up to ensure that firefighters from all over the area were organized to help out in the event of a large fire.
VERY densely populated area——and a fairly windy day.
.
i have never heard of anything beyond a four or maybe 5 alarm fire
9 alarm fire? stay the HELL away from Massachusetts until this is clarified at least
My husband was a Columbus OH firefighter and I just asked him about a nine alarm, he wasn’t aware of it either. In his day anything over a four alarm was considered a General Alarm, which meant every firefighter off duty was to report. He fought one general alarm.
It that was Philly, I would wonder if a black mayor dropped a bomb on some black separatists and burned down a black neighborhood.
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