My Boston Herald photo coverage of Saturday’s 5-alarm fire in Revere caught the attention of several readers of my blog, and of the Herald. Here is most of my photo shoot from Saturday evening’s fire at Sozio Appliance, a fixture on Squire road for many decades. Here is the Herald story from Kathleen McKiernan, and, as always, reader feedback is very much appreciated..
Frigid temperatures and a dangerous windchill hampered Boston firefighters yesterday at the scene of a 6-alarm fire. The building housed 11 residents and a laundromat, which was featured in the Ben Affleck movie, “The Town. My photos were part of my coverage as a staff news photographer at the Boston Herald.
Also, two Go-Fund-Me webpages have been established —-> here & here.
December 16, 2016-Boston,MA. Firefighters battle fire and ice during this morning’s frigid 6 alarm fire in Boston’s Charlestown neighborhood.
I was on assignment for the Boston Herald in East Boston photographing an airliner that had struck a flock of birds on departure from Boston’s Logan airport when the police scanner started cranking out reports of a fire in Cambridge. The Cambridge fire alarm dispatcher mentioned that they were “receiving’ calls” of fire on Berkshire St. I turned around to take a peek at the Boston skyline and there, in vivid tones, was the large smoke plume. I drove toward Cambridge, making it to a point approximately 1/4 mile away from the fire buildings. I decided to park there as to not get blocked in or congest the neighborhood any further. I ran up Cardinal Medeiros Way to York and then to York at Berkshire, to a point directly in front of the former church/converted apartment building that was now being consumed by the large fire volume. I stayed there for almost 90 minutes. Cambridge fire brass was great in allowing me to stay there as was the very friendly Cambridge Police dept. Here are some of my photos from ONLY the firefighting effort, as there was another Herald staffer, as well as reporters, who were roaming the outskirts searching for the other component of this story, the residents of the neighborhood. The fire damaged 18 buildings, destroying several of them. I will end with this. The Cambridge fire and police departments allowed me to stay in my safe perch very close to the fire. Thank you for allowing this. I was impressed (an understatement) by the professionalism and sensitivity of the Cambridge police, fire, and mutual aid fire departments in first fighting the fire, and second taking care of the victims. We are lucky to have these first responders!
How to help.
CLICK HERE —–> GoFundMe Link
Mayor’s Fire Relief Fund
Cambridge City Hall
Cambridge, MA 02139
A distraught man climbed onto a 4th floor ledge of a local college frat house today. He laid down in a precarious position for almost two hours as Boston police negotiators, EMS, and members of Boston fire’s Technical Rescue crew talked to him, listened to him, and gave him blankets and water until finally climbing onto the ledge and rescuing him. The incident happened at the corner of Hereford and Marlborough streets.
*I chose to publish these on my blog to show the teamwork and overall caring/human approach that the rescuers exhibited.
Holiday time can feel desperate, for many. If you are feeling desperate please call Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
**I have blurred the young man’s face to keep his anonymity**
Tomorrow marks the 16th anniversary of the Worcester Cold Storage & Warehouse Company fire that killed six firefighters. The dead included: FF Jeremiah Lucey, Timothy Jackson, Jeremiah Lucey, James Lyons III, Joseph McGuirk, and fire Lt. Thomas Spencer. Some of my photos from that week are seen below, as I was on assignment for the Boston Herald.
The search goes on for the remaining missing Worcester Firefighters.
As the procession passes by the home Fire Station of 2 of the dead Worcester Firefighters, mutual aid firefighters (from No. Reading and Marblehead) salute back from on top of Marblehead Fire Engine.
Staff Photo: Mark Garfinkel
Calie, a 7 year old pit bull was called a hero by his owners Yves Casseus and Wendall Mars, after he would not stop barking as a 3 alarm fire began consuming their Chelsea home. The dog went missing but was found an hour into the fire as the fire continued to roar. The dog was found by Winthrop firefighters searching the 1st floor, and then carried out by Chelsea Duputy Chief Paul J. Eaves.
Chelsea police officer Paul McCarthy was awarded a medal yesterday for his life saving actions on Saturday, atop the Tobin Bridge, according to the Chelsea police website. A man had allegedly assaulted his wife and was on the run when a Chelsea cop spotted him and initiated a brief pursuit, that ended when the man jumped from the upper deck of the bridge, only to get caught in construction safety netting on the lower deck. Here is my original post, with photos, from the incident. Below are more of my photos of officer McCarthy in action on the Tobin. Photos were snapped during my Saturday shift as a Boston Herald staff photographer.
Here are the very earliest moments of this morning’s big fire at Albanian Orthodox Church of St. John the Baptist, as seen from the rear of the building. Not much to say here. I will let my photos do the talking. Check out the Boston Herald for a photo gallery and movie from staffers Jim Mahoney, John Wilcox, and me.
When Kathleen Kieran arrived at 306 South St., her childhood home that her family has owned for over 50 years, she was overcome with emotion as she walked through the multitudes of Boston firefighters, to a position in the front yard, near the front door. Firefighters, including Lt. Bill Gillis of Engine #14, intercepted her travels and guided her to a safer spot away from heat and smoke. Patricia Adams, Kieran’s sister, who still lives in the home, then took her from the firefighters and guided her toward the back of a Boston EMS truck where the sisters would stay for several minutes as they gathered their thoughts. The four alarm fire that started near the 1pm hour, destroyed the large old building. Firefighters don’t believe the fire to be suspicious. Please see my photos below, and the Boston Herald story, written by Erin Smith, here
