Two Bridgeport, Conn. firefighters have died fighting a massive house fire, according to a source briefed on the incident. According to WTNH-TV, the city mayor’s office confirmed that the firefighters died battling a fire which broke out around 3:30 p.m. on Elmwood Avenue. The firefighters’ names are Lieutenant Steven Velazquez and Michael Baik. Both leave [...]
Report: Quincy police lieutenant injured when grill explodes
May 29, 2010 Leave a Comment
A Quincy police lieutenant suffered second-degree burns on Friday when his propane grill exploded, the Patriot Ledger reported. Kevin Tobin was burned on his right leg, right arm, and left hand. He was treated and released from Massachusetts General Hospital. His uncle, Quincy District Court chief magistrate Arthur Tobin told the Patriot Ledger that the [...]
Former building manager charged with MSPCA arson
May 13, 2010 Leave a Comment
A former building and grounds manager for the Massachusetts Society for the Protection of Animals was charged Thursday with setting a fire in the agency’s Boston headquarters earlier this year, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said. At his Superior Court arraignment this morning, William Fitzgerald, 52, of Plymouth, pleaded not guilty to charges [...]
The dangers of home oxygen and smoking
Feb. 2, 2010 2 Comments
QUINCY — Home oxygen equipment is a lifesaver. A medical device, it allows patients with breathing problems to stay in their homes and lead a normal life. But like any medical device, it can be deadly. In Massachusetts several fatal fires have moved investigators to look more deeply into the dangers of home oxygen, especially [...]
6-alarm blaze in Malden
Jan. 9, 2010 Leave a Comment
A rare 6-alarm fire sent dozens of residents into the frigid early morning air after an apartment complex on Pleasant Street in Malden burned, fire officials said. The Boston Globe reported that several people were taken to area hospitals for treatment and some firefighters were also hurt in the blaze. The cause of the fire [...]
Arrest made in Northampton arson spree
Jan. 5, 2010 Leave a Comment
Police have made an arrest in at least one of the fires set during a December 27 arson spree that left an elderly man and his son dead. According to the Associated Press, Massachusetts Northwest District Attorney Elizabeth Scheibel said in a statement that 25-year-old Anthony P. Baye was arrested at about 8 p.m. yesterday, [...]
Science, fire come together at ATF lab
Jan. 2, 2010 Leave a Comment
How do you investigate arson? By burning something, of course.
Smokey the bear says “only goats can prevent forest fires”
Sept. 21, 2009 Leave a Comment
How these nibblers could stop fies
E3 2009: Hands-on with Real Heroes Firefighter
June 10, 2009 Leave a Comment
Blast’s wannabe firefighter tries his hand at the only fire title out there in video game land.
Tokers, not terrorists, cause police and fire fracas downtown
April 30, 2009 Leave a Comment
No, Boston is not in the grips of a mad scientist with anthrax. Nor is it under siege from a series of terrorist briefcase bombs. It was pot, marijuana, Mary Jane, grass, weed and a whole lot of it that tied up half the emergency services in the city Thursday afternoon. Mailroom workers at One [...]
Fire fire everywhere in New England on Friday
April 17, 2009 Leave a Comment
Brush fires burned throughout New England Friday, including three Eastern Massachusetts communities — Cambridge, Gloucester, and a very large fire in Lexington that required dozens of fire units from across the state for mutual aid. The Boston Globe reported that a fire broke out along the banks of the Charles River in Cambridge and that [...]
$10k in rewards for ATF-probed arsons in Jamaica Plain
April 2, 2009 Leave a Comment
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Boston Field Division, announced Wednesday that they are offering $5,000 added to the existing $5,000 reward set up by an insurance organization for the arrest of a suspect or suspects responsible for three suspicious Jamaica Plain fires. According to the ATF, a Feb. 7 fire at [...]
Boston firefighter killed, others injured in ladder truck crash
Jan. 9, 2009 Leave a Comment
A Boston firefighter was killed and others, including three other firefighters were injured Friday afternoon when a fire department ladder truck crashed into an apartment building on Huntington Avenue. Three children are also being treated at Children’s Hospital Boston, according to Boston’s Channel 7. According to The Boston Globe, the truck may have lost its [...]
EarthTalk: Green bamboo? Fireplace dangers?
Dec. 15, 2008 Leave a Comment
Dear EarthTalk: I’ve noticed that bamboo is very trendy right now, apparently-in part-for environmental reasons. Can you enlighten? – Eric M., via e-mail Bamboo has a long history of economic and cultural significance, primarily in East Asia and South East Asia where it has been used for centuries for everything from building material to food [...]
EarthTalk: Inflating tires with nitrogen? Backyard fire dangers.
Sept. 29, 2008 Leave a Comment
Dear EarthTalk: Is using nitrogen to inflate my car’s tires really better for the environment than using air? And if so, how?‚ – Roger Mawdsley, Abbotsville, BC‚ Whether or not it makes environmental sense to inflate car tires with nitrogen instead of air is a matter of much debate. Proponents of nitrogen say the element is [...]
EarthTalk: Forest fire chemicals? Energy drinks?
March 31, 2008 Leave a Comment
Dear EarthTalk: How safe are the fire retardants that are used to quell forest fires across the American West? – Barbara, Minneapolis, MN So-called long-term fire retardants-those usually dropped from airplanes over forest fires-are comprised of water mixed with a slurry of chemicals, thickeners and corrosion inhibitors designed to prevent plants on the ground from [...]
Fire hurts 17 at Vegas’ Monte Carlo
Jan. 25, 2008 2 Comments
Sections of the Monte Carlo hotel and casino in Las Vegas caught fire around 11 a.m. Friday, forcing guests and employees to flee the fire and falling flaming debris. Firefighters could be seen battling the blaze from the roof of the hotel, with flames coming from the southern section on the top floors. Las Vegas [...]
