Local Businesses Ravaged By 12-Hour Blaze

Last Sunday, Feb. 12, firefighters attempted to quell a fire that caused approximately $4 million worth of damage. Burning for a total of over 12 hours, the fire began across the street from a local sandwich shop, Moogy's. The building contained four businesses: Village Laundry, Bocca Buona pizza company, Ora Catering company, and a janitorial supply shop. The entire building and all four businesses were destroyed.

Firefighters arrived on the scene at 160 Chestnut Hill Avenue at 5:48 a.m. in temperatures reading fourteen degrees. Icicles formed on Engine 29 as firefighters spent the day attempting to calm the flames, which originated from a natural gas source. Temperatures dropped while firefighters climbed high on cranes in order to get a bird's eye view of the building. The firefighters showed their appreciation and tweeted their appreciation for the Boston Sparks and Salvation Army volunteers, who provided coffee and hot chocolate to them throughout the day. The Boston Fire Department also tweeted hourly updates, pictures of the fire and damage, and any major developments on the extinguishing.

The cold temperatures led to ice hazards and a low water supply. At 8:54 a.m., the Boston Fire Department tweeted "Fourth alarm now ordered. Water supply issues. Need relays. Large volumes of water being used." While the ice caused firefighters to slip, the weather did not harm anyone at the scene. Five firefighters were sent to the hospital durig the ordeal. Fortunately, all were treated and released with no significant issues. After the first firefighter was taken by EMS for an eye and back injury, all persons were ordered out of the building and away from the fire.

 "As members were exiting to get in a better position, there was a fire wall that came right out, and they barely escaped out of there. At that time, the decision was made to pull all people out of the building," said Deputy Fire Chief Robert Calobrisi. Fortunately, no one was seriously harmed as a result of the fire.

Since the cause of the fire was partially fueled by a gas line, firefighters demolished the building after finally extinguishing the flames Sunday evening. Tow trucks began evacuating cars in front of the burning building at approximately 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon to prevent the fire from spreading. The National Grid gas company dug up the street lining the front of the former businesses in an effort to shut off the gas lines after the front walls were knocked out. The gasses continued to feed the fire long after the majority of flames were out. Calobrisi ordered two engines and a ladder to douse the pockets of still burning fire at approximately 5:45  p.m. Sunday evening, 12 hours after the first trucks arrived on scene.

The entire building on the corner of Chestnut Hill Avenue and Embassy Road was demolished, leaving the four businesses without a store home.

In the days following the fire, Mayor Thomas Menino has been working with Department of Neighborhood Development (DND) Director Evelyn Freidman and Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services (MONS) Director Jay Walsh to bring restoration to these businesses. City officials from DND and MONS have been at the scene since the fire originated in Bocca Buona Sunday morning. The DND's Office of Business Development will continue to work with the four businesses in the following weeks to assess their needs in order to reopen. City officials will also be working with the owner of the former building to decide on a course of action for rebuilding. Menino encouraged, "We will work collaboratively to do everything we can to help those involved. We want to get these folks back on their feet …" For more information on the fire's aftermath and the effects, follow the Boston Fire Department on Twitter at @BostonFire.