Cambridge, MA 10th Alarm - Berkshire St IAO York St - 12/3/16

Cambridge Fire Alarm dispatched a box alarm assignment after recieving multiple phone calls and a master box for a reported building fire on Berkshire St near York St.

While enroute, the on duty Deputy Chief could see heavy smoke showing. Police arrived and reported heavy fire showing from multiple buildings. The Deputy arrived shortly after and requested 2nd and 3rd alarms be transmitted. The original fire building was fully involved with extension to 2 other houses on its "B" side, a former church turned into affordable housing on the "D" side and 2 3 deckers across the street. Multiple cars parked on the road also caught fire. Additional alarms were requested in a very short time span bringing in mutual aid from 25 metro Boston communities to assist at the fire and to cover many of Cambridge's fire stations. Due to the heavy fire conditions, the fire was fought using a defensive posture thru out.

In all 11 buildings sustained damage either directly by fire or as a result of heat etc. The firefighters of the CFD did an exemplary job under the extreme circumstances they faced in stopping the fire from spreading any further and causing additional damage. Their efforts and that of the mutual aid companies should absolutely be commended.

I'd also be remiss not to mention the efforts of the Boston Sparks Association providing rehab at the scene to the firefighters. They provided food, hot drinks, water, towels, gloves and more to these men and women. They along with the Red Cross and the Providence Canteen also deserve much credit for what they did.