Monday morning brought an unexpected outpouring of gratitude to Chelsea firefighters who were still exhausted from battling a devastating 5-Alarm fire on Arlington Street the day before. Residents from the affected neighborhood appeared at the station with home-cooked meals and expressions of thanks for the crews’ tireless efforts in preventing what could have been a catastrophic disaster in an area that has witnessed numerous tragic fires over its 150-year history.
The appreciation caught many off guard. “fblikebutton_button” Deputy Chief John Quatieri, who commanded Sunday’s operations, reflected on the community’s response: “It’s amazing how people surprise you. We had so many people just come in to Central Fire to say thanks. They really showed their appreciation. We even had local restaurants bring food over to the station during the fire to feed the fire crews covering our stations.”
The fire itself had been anything but calm. Firefighters arrived at 255 Arlington St. around 2:15 p.m. to find the structure completely engulfed. Alert neighbors were already knocking on doors to warn residents of the rapidly advancing blaze, which was spreading through windows on all sides within minutes. Six homes sustained damage, with four deemed uninhabitable, yet remarkably no severe injuries occurred.
A child remained trapped inside 255 Arlington St. when crews arrived. Chelsea Tower 1’s search unit entered the burning structure under extreme conditions to locate the occupant while Engine 2 advanced 4-inch hose lines from a hydrant across the street to protect the rescuers. According to Quatieri’s account: “Tower 1’s crew entered the structure under extremely heavy fire conditions in an effort to locate the trapped occupant. Engine 2’s crew was ordered to advance a hose line into 255 Arlington to protect the crew of Tower 1 while they conducted a primary search.”
The situation deteriorated rapidly as the fire spread to 253 Arlington St., prompting a 3rd Alarm. Radiant heat ignited structures at 30 Heard St. and 28 Heard St., along with a 40-foot section of wood stockade fencing, which then carried flames to 26 and 22 Heard St. A 4th Alarm was ordered. Quatieri’s report noted: “Fire was quickly spreading in all directions. [The buildings at] 30 Heard St. and 28 Heard St. …were starting to ignite from the radiant heat. A 40-foot section of wood stockade fencing ignited…causing the fire to spread to 26 Heard St. and 22 Heard St. A 4th alarm was ordered and an additional Chelsea Deputy Chief was requested to respond to the fire. At this point, conditions were deteriorating rapidly. All Chelsea companies were committed to 255 Arlington St, and containing the spread of fire at 26 Heard St. and 22 Heard St., and were heavily engaged removing occupants.”
With all available Chelsea resources committed and mutual aid not yet arrived, crews faced an impossible choice. Two buildings on Heard Street were burning but unoccupied, while 22 Heard St.—a six-family residence—was both occupied and catching fire. Resources could not cover all three structures. The report explained: “No fire companies were available to be assigned to 28 and 30 Heard St., which had ignited due to radiant heat from the original fire building. The potential life safety threat at 22 Heard St, an occupied six-family, was too great so a decision was made…to protect that building until all occupants could be removed.”
Chelsea crews prioritized rescue at 22 Heard St., leaving the other two structures to burn temporarily. Everett firefighters arrived shortly after and immediately engaged the fires at 28 and 30 Heard St. Acting Fire Chief Robert Houghton subsequently called for a 5th Alarm.
As additional mutual aid companies arrived, they were deployed along both streets to contain and suppress the advancing flames. By 7 p.m., all visible fire had been extinguished, and crews began searching for hot spots. A fire detail remained overnight to monitor the properties.
Two firefighters were transported to MGH Boston for smoke inhalation but are expected to recover. One resident from 28 Heard St. went to Whidden Hospital with non-serious injuries. No fatalities occurred.
Structural damage rendered four homes uninhabitable: 255 Arlington, 253 Arlington, 28 Heard, and 26 Heard. Water damage to 30 Heard St. initially prevented reoccupancy, though 22 Heard St. residents were cleared to return. The commuter rail was temporarily shut down to accommodate hose lines crossing the tracks.
Investigators believe the fire to be accidental, though the cause remains under investigation. The public is urged to report any prior gas smells or suspicious activity to (617) 466-4625. One displaced family has established a fundraising effort at www.gofundme.com/dur0zg.