electrical fire

Acton Firefighters Extinguish Electrical Fire inside Home

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Acton Fire Department
Chief Robert Hart
371 Main St.
Acton, MA 01720

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Acton Firefighters Extinguish Electrical Fire inside Home

ACTON — Chief Robert Hart reports that the Acton Fire Department quelled a small electrical fire that could have been much worse had firefighters not arrived in time.

On Monday, Dec. 9 at 6:49 p.m., firefighters responded to a home on Central Street after a resident reported a strange odor in the home and noticed that the wall near an electrical outlet was hot.

The homeowner also shut off the circuit breaker before firefighters arrived.

Firefighters arrived to find a second story electrical outlet that was warm, and light smoke was coming from the outlet. Crews opened the wall to investigate and found a small fire burning inside the wall. The fire was extinguished and overhauled to ensure that the fire had not extended to any other portions of the home.

An electrical inspector from the Acton Building Department, and after an investigation by the inspector and the Acton Fire Department, it was determined that there had been an open splice in the wiring, and the electrical inspector noted that the outlet had been moved to make room for a forced hot water baseboard that had been installed.

A space heater had been plugged into the outlet and had run for several hours the previous night. It is believed that the load drawn from the heater exposed the danger of the open splice, resulting in the fire.

Residents were able to return home last night, and damage was contained to the original wall. Cleanup will be required, but there was no structural damage to the home.

Chief Hart reminds residents to only use a licensed electrician to move or relocate wiring in the home and to exercise extreme caution when using space heaters. There was also only one working smoke detector in the home, increasing the possible danger if the fire had occurred in the evening when residents were asleep.

Notably, Chief Hart reminds residents:

  • Never attempt to relocate or move electrical wires yourself. Only used a state licensed electrician to perform electrical work in the home.
  • Never leave a space heater plugged in and/or operating overnight or when you are not home.
  • Review the state literature on smoke and carbon smoke detector requirements in homes and call the fire department business line at 978-929-7722 if you are unsure if your home, rented or owned, meets the requirements.

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Video: Enfield Fire Rescue District 1 Responds to Underground Fire at Brooks Brothers Warehouse

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Enfield Fire Rescue
District 1
Chief Edward N. Richards
200 Phoenix Ave.
Enfield, CT 06082

For Immediate Release

Monday, Aug. 12, 2019

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Video: Enfield Fire Rescue District 1 Responds to Underground Fire at Brooks Brothers Warehouse

ENFIELD, Connecticut — Chief Edward N. Richards reports that Enfield Fire Rescue District 1 responded to an underground fire at a warehouse on Monday afternoon.

Firefighters responded at 1:57 p.m. to the Brooks Brothers warehouse, located at 107 Phoenix Ave. for a report of fire showing.

Firefighters arrived quickly, as the Enfield Fire Rescue District 1 headquarters is located less than a mile away from the Brooks Brothers location. Upon arrival, fire was showing from a high voltage underground switchgear vault under the front of the building, along the roadway. Utility crews responded to disconnect electrical service to the scene.

The warehouse was undamaged, but the building was evacuated as a precaution, and power was cut to the entire warehouse building.

The fire was declared under control at 3 p.m. and damage was limited to the utility vault.

No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation by Enfield Fire Rescue District 1.

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Gloucester Firefighters Battle House Fire on Blynman Avenue

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Gloucester Fire Department
Eric Smith, Fire Chief
8 School St.
Gloucester, MA 01930

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Gloucester Firefighters Battle House Fire on Blynman Avenue

The Gloucester Fire Department responded to a single-alarm fire on Blynman Avenue at approximately 3:45 a.m. Tuesday. (Courtesy Photo Gloucester Fire Department)

GLOUCESTER — Chief Eric Smith reports that the Gloucester Fire Department responded to a fire at a multi-family home on Blynman Avenue early Tuesday morning.

Gloucester firefighters responded to a report of a fire at 18 Blynman Ave. at approximately 3:45 a.m.

Upon arrival, firefighters saw fire coming from the right side of the first floor. All six adults and three dogs living in the two-story home had been alerted to the fire by smoke detectors and had evacuated the building prior to the fire department’s arrival.

Firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading past the first floor, and put it out within 10 minutes of arrival. The majority of damage from the fire was contained to a bedroom on the first floor, where the fire originated. The second floor also sustained smoke damage.

“Thanks to the quick response of our firefighters, we were able to contain this fire and prevent it from spreading any further,” Chief Smith said. “Fortunately everyone in the home was immediately alerted to the fire by smoke detectors, and as a result no one was injured and we were able to respond swiftly.”

Fire officials estimate that the home sustained approximately $75,000 in damage.

The Gloucester Fire Department is investigating the fire, and an initial investigation indicated that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit.

All six residents and three dogs were displaced by the fire, and are being assisted by the Red Cross.

First responders cleared the scene at 6:30 a.m.

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Gloucester Fire Department Responds to Washington Square Fire

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Gloucester Fire Department
Eric Smith, Fire Chief
8 School St.
Gloucester, MA 01930

For Immediate Release

Friday, Jan. 25, 2019

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Gloucester Fire Department Responds to Washington Square Fire

GLOUCESTER — Chief Eric Smith reports that the Gloucester Fire Department responded to a fire in a storage area beneath a porch on Washington Square yesterday.

At approximately 6:57 p.m. Thursday, firefighters responded to a fire at a multi-family building at 5 Washington Square. Upon arrival firefighters found fire in an enclosed area underneath a porch that’s used to store two freezers.

After smelling smoke, residents discovered the fire and turned off power to the area. They then extinguished much of the fire with a garden hose before firefighters arrived on scene. Firefighters were able to extinguish remaining flames, which had extended into the walls and ceiling of the storage area.

There was significant damage in the area where the fire originated, but residents of the were not displaced and no one was injured.

A preliminary investigation by the Gloucester Fire Department indicated that the most probable cause of the fire was electrical in nature.

“Thankfully the occupants in this building smelled smoke and discovered the fire quickly,” Chief Smith said. “Our firefighters were able to extinguish the remaining fire in the storage area. It’s important for residents to be cautious when they smell smoke, and to call us immediately.”

Firefighters had cleared the scene by 7:56 p.m. Thursday.

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