ext_124044 ([identity profile] haptotrope.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] davis_square2008-09-17 02:15 am
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Car Fire: Highland Ave @ Conwell St.

Fire: or rather cars on fire and exploding under the lofted concrete apartment building (270 Highland Ave). About 6 firetrucks, and all manners of Somerville/Medford Responding.

Woke up at a little before 2am to smashing of windows and general mayhem, and looked out the window and saw flames reflected in the house across the street. Heard more explosions, and called 911, ran outside, and saw the cars on fire in the parking lot under the building overhang. Still more explosions as the firefighters worked to put out the fires. It looked as if some part of the building lobby may have caught fire, or it could have just been flaming debris obscured by smoke.

There were reports of someone fleeing the scene, running down Highland towards Porter St., but other observers, noted he was just watching the fire, and bolted when the car started exploding.

The fire has been put out and people are loitering around in their pajamas... Nobody seemed to be hurt - The Cataldo Ambulance crew and gurney were unused at present observation. News cameras are present -- so we'll probably see this with more details on the TV tomorrow.

[identity profile] m00n.livejournal.com 2008-09-17 12:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow. That *sounds* like arson...

Also, isn't that directly across the street from a fire station?

[identity profile] etana.livejournal.com 2008-09-17 12:44 pm (UTC)(link)
I was wondering - I stayed inside because we had no idea what was going on - but I definitely called 911. It sounded like gunfire. I came out this morning and it looked like nothing happened. That was quick!
And smelly!
Man was it smelly@

[identity profile] two-stabs.livejournal.com 2008-09-17 12:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Anarchists in Davis!
Edited 2008-09-17 12:45 (UTC)

Is this the building that looks like is resting on

[identity profile] nvidia99999.livejournal.com 2008-09-17 12:51 pm (UTC)(link)
those really tiny pillars? Haven't walked there in a while...

[identity profile] blondeamazon.livejournal.com 2008-09-17 01:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Did you know that emergency vehicles were there before you called 911? If so, why call? Sorry, just a pet peeve of mine. I had a friend who worked for 911 in NH, and she told me how much time is wasted, and thus taking operators away from other emergency calls, but people calling in emergencies already responded to.

[identity profile] leko.livejournal.com 2008-09-17 01:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I was wondering about this myself.

[identity profile] irinarasp.livejournal.com 2008-09-17 01:06 pm (UTC)(link)
If you look at the part of the building that overhangs the parking lot, you can see the damage.

Re: Is this the building that looks like is resting on

[personal profile] ron_newman 2008-09-17 01:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Yep, here's a Google street view.

[personal profile] ron_newman 2008-09-17 01:11 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm surprised there's nothing on either newspaper's web site or blog. Maybe all the reporters went to bed after finishing the election coverage.

[identity profile] irinarasp.livejournal.com 2008-09-17 01:14 pm (UTC)(link)
One of my coworkers said he heard about it on the news, but I couldn't find anything about it.

[identity profile] cranbonite.livejournal.com 2008-09-17 01:28 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm sort of surprised I can't find anything in the news yet.

It was really terrifying to run out of my home through acrid smoke that burned my throat with my traumatized cats in tow. Thank god I have two carriers though. I talked to my neighbor whose husband dragged her out without the cat - I'm so glad when we got back the smoke hadn't gone all the way into the apartments; presumably their cat's okay. (One guy was holding his, no carrier.)

It sucked. I still haven't left the building again to see the damage (we re-entered from the back).

Re: Is this the building that looks like is resting on

[identity profile] nvidia99999.livejournal.com 2008-09-17 01:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks, Ron. Wow, they do look awfully thin for that big brick shoebox! Hope the fire did not weaken them.

Or after waiting for the attacker

[identity profile] nvidia99999.livejournal.com 2008-09-17 01:46 pm (UTC)(link)
near the Sacramento underpass.

Re: Is this the building that looks like is resting on

[identity profile] cranbonite.livejournal.com 2008-09-17 01:51 pm (UTC)(link)
I just went to check out the damage - I couldn't remember where I'd parked my car so I wanted to make sure it wasn't too close (it was about 30 feet away so no debris/mess, thank god). The fire was pretty much contained to the lobby door/steps area and the parking spaces next to it. It fucked up the ceiling over the parking spaces pretty badly and there's a lot of roof and insulation littering the ground that is being cleaned up, but I'm feeling pretty comfortable that my building's foundations are stable. I worry a little for the people who live above the spot, but I'm sure the fire company talked things over with them.

[identity profile] omnia-mutantur.livejournal.com 2008-09-17 02:21 pm (UTC)(link)
I just wanted to say yay for cat-evacuation. Go you!

[identity profile] cranbonite.livejournal.com 2008-09-17 02:23 pm (UTC)(link)
If I had let myself run out of there without them I might have thrown myself in front of a truck when I saw how serious it was. Fortunately when I opened my door I smelled - and saw - the smoke right away and knew there was no way in hell I was going anywhere without them. (One of the two I have had for ten years. No way was I leaving my best friend to an uncertain fate.)

[identity profile] ellf.livejournal.com 2008-09-17 02:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Indeed, it is far superior to leave friends to well-defined fates.

[identity profile] vonelftinhaus.livejournal.com 2008-09-17 02:36 pm (UTC)(link)
saw it as it was happening, was bikin up highland from work around 1:40-the fire truck from engine 7 had pulled out of the fire house up the hill.Other trucks eventually showed up. The tires started to blow up from the 2 cars on fire, thought it was something worse,thank god they got it soaked with water.
There were 2 news cameras that also up. I am glad everyone in the building was ok; yes from the fire but from the smoke that was pouring up from underneath. In the end there were a few cop cars, 7 or 8 fire trucks, ambulance and a good few people.
One good thing, though all this is very bad, the cars on fire horns kept going off- almost weird way of waring people

[identity profile] cranbonite.livejournal.com 2008-09-17 03:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Ummm, okay. No need to pick on my word choice, seriously. It was sorta stressful.

[identity profile] ellf.livejournal.com 2008-09-17 03:16 pm (UTC)(link)
It was meant to be humorous, not an attack.

[identity profile] cranbonite.livejournal.com 2008-09-17 03:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Sorry. Wasn't sure what to make of it. Can get defensive with anything regarding my kitty :P

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