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.
Cambridge has had neighborhoods with a mix of people from different backgrounds for many years. Traditionally, that neighborhood has had people with Italian, Greek, Irish, Portuguese, Brazilian, and other backgrounds mixed up with newly arrived students, hipsters, and immigrants from just about any country you can think of.
I’ve heard of nine, not ten. I thought that after “nine” came “general alarm.” But I’m no expert. It’s a big fire, no doubt. And part of the problem is that in East Cambridge (where the fire is) there are a lot of very closely spaced wooden houses that can flash from the heat of adjacent building unless they are heavily hosed down.
I see.
(PS Love your ID, too)
I see.
that’s about how I have always understoood it, thanks for the info
FIRE JIHAD.
Obama and Democrats let these ISIS ridddle refugees in here and now they’re using arson as a WAR TACTIC.
Politicians need to address this now instead of conveniently IGNORING IT.
The 1950's would be "young" wiring for most of the Boston area. Back in the day, I did electrical work on many old houses in the area. Some of the wiring dates back to when Thomas Edison was still alive. Knob-and-tube wiring. No ground wire. It's amazing how well 100 year old wiring holds up! Totally illegal to branch off of the old knob-and-tube. In fact it is best to either leave it alone or take it all out.
Wow. Look at all those towns responding to the mutual aid call.
What is the temp? I’m thinking gas leak started something that intense. Any reports of explosions at the outset?
It’s not unusual for smaller towns in Massachusetts without fire hydrants to rely on volunteer firefighters and surrounding towns for help.
We don’t have sewer, water or fire hydrants in our little town.
Could be. But I thought the TN arsonist was some depressed white guy.
While this is certainly a possibility, I wouldn’t rule out other causes, it’s just too early to know what has caused this.
East Cambridge is filled with old wooden tenement houses that were built for factory workers back about a hundred years ago. They are densely packed. Get one burning, add a little wind, and you can get a conflagration. The last big one in the area was the Chelsea fire of 1973. That one took out 16 acres of urban structures.
You have a long memory, lol!
Yep. About 15 or 20 feet between them, enough for a driveway. Sometimes less.
Unreal. Prayers up.
I think my final guess will be “old wires overloaded by a space heater, yet claimed by ISIS nonetheless.”
A family member just bought an old Boston house with K&T wiring. They wanted to do some renovation, so that meant bring it up to current code. It was quite expensive, but I told them do it, renovation or not.
Like I said, 70 year old wiring is scary, the K&T stuff, while robust for what it is, has had decades of folks potentially monkeying with it, and is not in any way to be trusted with modern household devices.
Your pic—is that a firefighting suggestion? They should throw ale on the fire?
All of the 1st - 8th Alarm assignment and:
2 Engine Companies
(Total Apparatus on Scene)
21 Engine Companies
7 Ladder Companies
1 Tower-ladder Company
1 Heavy Rescue Company
6 Fire Chief ( 1 Deputy / 5 District)
1 Special Unit
1 Rehabilitation Unit
1 Air Supply Unit
“The Cambridge police acted stupidly”
took me a moment to figure it out too
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.