Thursday Morning Fire Destroys Two-Family Watertown Home

Fire destroyed a home on the corner of Belmont and School streets early Thursday morning.

Early Morning Fire Destroys Two-Family Watertown Home

Fire destroyed a home on the corner of Belmont and School streets early Thursday morning.

An early-morning fire that originated on a School Street porch destroyed a two-family home and sent two firefighters to the hospital with minor injuries, fire officials said. The fire was reported sometime around 12:30 to 12:45 Thursday morning, according to Watertown Fire Deputy Chief Robert Iannetta. The fire originated on an exterior back porch, where there were items stored, he said. Initial reports early in the morning indicated the house was on Belmont Street, however the address is 417 School Street, on the corner of Belmont and School streets, Iannetta said. Ten to 12 people occupied the two-family home, and all got out safely, Iannetta said. The two-and-a-half story home is not habitable and Iannetta estimated the damages at $150,…

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Abby Jordan

3:52 pm on Friday, May 3, 2013

Roseanne, we're glad to hear your family is safe. Sorry for the loss of your home.   more ›

Watertown Rescue's Actions Helped Save MBTA Officer's Life

Watertown firefighters Caruso and Menton said training, instincts kicked in at the critical moment.

Watertown Police, Firefighters Encounter Treacherous Situation With a Sad Ending

Watertown emergency personnel headed to School Street to deal with a car balanced on the front steps of a home and the wheels still spinning.

  Watertown Police and firefighters arrived on School Street on April 6 at 6 p.m. to deal with a single-car accident, and they found a Honda Accord teetering treacherously on the steps of a home with the motor engaged and wheels spinning. The man behind the wheel, a 53-year-old from Lynnfield, appeared to have suffered a seizure, according to the Fire Department report. The driver did not respond when fire and police personnel tried to communicate with him, and the car's wheels were spinning and creating smoke. "They tried to force entry to get the guy to assist them, and suddenly the car teetered and flew forward and struck a fire truck," said Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn. Firefighters got the man out of the car and found he had no …

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Fire Damages Kitchen of Home on Arlington Street in Watertown

The Fire Department extinguished the fire before it could do further damage.

Food cooking on the stove of an Arlington Street home caught fire and burned part of the kitchen Tuesday morning, but firefighters brought the blaze under control before it could spread. A resident of the top floor of a two family home at 233 Arlington Street was cooking but left the kitchen, said Watertown Deputy Fire Chief Tom McManus. "She left the stove and was doing stuff around the house when she smelled an odor of smoke," McManus said. "She came back into the kitchen and the cabinets above the stove had caught fire." The resident called 911 and got out of the house. Firefighters arrived and doused the flames before doing more damage. "Credit the guys who showe up first. They did a great job," McManus said. Firefighters made a hole …

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Cause of Three-Alarm Fire in Watertown Revealed

Fire investigators spent most of Wednesday looking at the building on Main Street.

  Tuesday's three-alarm fire started with either a faulty extension cord or from a water cooler plugged into the cord, Watertown Fire officials said. The fire started with the faulty cord in Lony Nail Salon, went into the basement before ending up in the ceiling where it was trapped for some time before bursting into heavy flames, said Capt. Stephen Igoe, fire inspector for the Watertown Fire Department. "It seems like it was in the nail shop," Igoe said. "An extension cord had been cut or shorted out. Or, the bubbler that was plugged into it did. It was accidental." The fire was first reported by a tow truck driver who spotted some smoke coming from the building at 309-315 Main Street, just west of Watertown Square. When firefighters …

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VIDEO: Watertown Firefighters Battled 3 Alarm Blaze on Main Street

The fire Tuesday night gutted businesses on Main Street near Watertown Square.

Flames shot out of the roof of a commercial building on Main Street in Watertown for more than an hour Tuesday night.  A third alarm was called and at some points three ladder trucks and other firefighters on the ground blasted the fire with water.  One firefighter was injured during the blaze when an explosion knocked him over. See more about the fire here.  Get the latest headlines in your email each morning in the free Watertown Patch Newsletter. Subscribe by clicking here.

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Watertown Public Works Driver Escapes Truck After Being Trapped by Live Wire

The power line fell across the plow truck during the height of the blizzard on Friday.

A Watertown Public Works plow driver got trapped in his truck Friday night when a live wire fell across the truck as he drove down Orchard Street near the playground at Victory Field. The Watertown Fire Department responded to the call at about 9:30 p.m. Friday, said Deputy Fire Chief Daniel Tardiff. "When we arrived we found a DPW truck with a live power line across the truck," Tardiff said. "The driver was still in the truck." Firefighters could not immediately get the driver out, Tardiff said.  "He had to stay in the truck until NStar came and disconnected power," Tardiff said. The driver had to wait about half an hour, Tardiff said. "He was fine," Tardiff said. "He stayed in the truck, which was the right thing to do." The call came in…

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Charlie Breitrose

11:53 am on Sunday, February 10, 2013

I'm not sure how the wire came down. The Fire Department did not know.   more ›

Watertown Fire Chief Urges Caution During the Blizzard of 2013

Chief Mario Orangio asks residents to stay off the roads and to clear snow from around fire hydrants.

Watertown Fire Chief Mario Orangio asks residents to take caution and stay off the roads during the Blizzard of 2013.  A snow emergency starts at noon Friday and remains in effect until further notice. For more information on the emergency click here. "Residents are urged to remain in doors during the storm and should refrain from driving so that roads can remain clear for snow removal and emergency vehicles," Orangio said in an announcement. "The town asks that you be a good neighbor and to periodically check on elderly or incapacitated neighbors." Residents can help the Fire Department by clearing snow from around fire hydrants on their street, Orangio said.  Fire Lt. Thomas Thibaut, president of the firefighters union, urged people to …

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