Belmont Fire Log: Stuck in the Fire House, Town Hall All Wet

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Editor’s Note: The photo initially used to illustrate this article is a copyright image by an established photographer used without his permission or compensation. The selection of the image was inadvertent and an error that this publication regrets.

Locked out

March 2 – Just after 3 p.m., firefighters headed over to Creeley Road where they helped a resident who locked himself out of his house.

All that snow

March 4 – Right at 11 a.m., Engine 1 was dispatched to Greybirch Park house for a water leak in the ceiling. The homeowner was informed to have her electrical wiring and ceiling checked by licensed professionals.

It happens

March 4 – At 10 minutes ’til noon, the elevator in the Fire Department’s Trapelo Road headquarters suddenly stalled, stranding a few people in the cab. It didn’t take long for firefighter’s to “extricated” the occupants as they only had to travel a few feet to the location of the incident. 

Your neighbor’s fire

March 4 – At a quarter ’til 9 p.m., Engine 1 went to investigate the reported outdoor odor of smoke outside a house on Brookside Avenue. Turns out a next-door neighbor was using his fireplace. 

Lunchtime mishap

March 5 – At a quarter ’til 1 p.m., fire crews were sent to a business on Pleasant Street for a possible fire. It turned out that the blaze was confined to food container.

Town Hall all wet

March 7 – At 9:18 a.m., Engines 1 and 2, the ladder truck and Rescue 1 were dispatched to Belmont Town Hall after a report the fire sprinkler was operating. The Engine 2 crew didn’t find a fire or smoke but did discover the sprinkler head in the first-floor vestibule spraying water everywhere. The system was shut down despite the fact that firefighters were unable to gain access to the main alarm panel room. Town employees said he would take care of access issues. The elevator was also locked and tagged due to water in the shaft.

 

 

 

‘Grim’ News for Heroin Dealer Arrested in Belmont

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Photo: Belmont Police K9 Officer Corey Taylor and Grim.

A Boston man was arrested Friday morning, Feb. 27 by Belmont police – with a big assist from the department’s K9 officer, Grim – for allegedly selling heroin in Belmont.

The arrest of Harrison Soto-Zuazo, 34, of Jamaica Plain, came after Belmont police received complaints from resident of street-level drug deals being conducted in town, according to the Belmont Police.

Belmont Police Det. Michael Pugliese, along with members of the Suburban Middlesex County Drug Task Force, conducted a investigation that led to a search warrant being issued for Soto-Zuazo’s motor vehicle.

At 11:43 a.m. Friday, detectives observed Soto-Zuazo operating his vehicle on Pleasant Street. After stopping Soto-Zuazo’s vehicle and not finding any illegal narcotics, detectives called Belmont Police K9 Officer Corey Taylor and Grim. The K9 officer performed a search of the vehicle and Taylor reported to the detectives that Grim had given an indication that there were narcotics in the rear portion of the center console. Examining the console closer, detectives discovered an aftermarket modification that revealed a “hide” inside the vehicle. Inside detectives discovered 68 grams of heroin.

Soto-Zuazo was charged with trafficking in heroin, furnishing a false name, refusing to identify himself, use of a false RMV document and operating on a suspended license.

 

Despite No Snow in Forecast, Belmont’s Limited Parking Ban Still in Effect

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While the next few days will see highs in the 30s and sunny skies, the impact of more than 90 inches of snow continues as most Belmont side streets continue to be single-lane roads.

For that reason, the Belmont Police advises residents that the Limited Parking Ban will remain in effect until further notice.

Under the ban, parking is only allowed on the odd-numbered side of the street unless the street has been listed as exempt.

The ban is necessary for public safety. The roads are not wide enough for public safety vehicles and school busses to get down when vehicles are parked on both sides. To avoid being ticketed and towed do not park on the even numbered side of the street.

Please refer to the town’s web site for a complete list of exempt streets.

Suffolk DA: Belmont Teen Arraigned Tuesday on Gun Charges

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The Belmont teenager arrested on firearm charges in Boston on Saturday morning was arraigned in Roxbury Municipal Court on Tuesday, Feb. 24, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley. 

Kenneth Madden, described by Conley as “a high school student from Belmont” was charged before Judge David Weingarten on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, carrying a loaded firearm, possession of a large capacity feeding device, possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number, and trespassing. 

According to a press release from Conley’s office, Assistant District Attorney Caitlin Fitzgerald requested bail of $25,000 and that Madden wears a GPS tracking devise, abide by a curfew and stay away from Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood if he is released from custody. Weingarten set bail at $7,500 and imposed the three conditions of release.

Fitzgerald told the court that members of the Boston Police Youth Violence Strike Force observed approximately 15 to 20 people running from Brook Avenue onto Dudley Street shortly before 2:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21. Witnesses told officers a man running from the scene was carrying a firearm and he provided police with the suspect’s description. 

Conley’s office said the officers continued on Dudley Street in the direction of Columbia Road where the group had fled and observed a man matching the description, later identified as Madden, walk into an alley along with approximately 10 other young men. 

The officers pulled the cruiser into the alley and observed Madden standing near the driver’s door of a Mercury Grand Marquis.  Upon seeing the cruiser, Madden ducked down behind the vehicle’s door then reappeared and closed the door. Officers observed that members of the group appeared to be bruised and bleeding, as though they had just been in a fight.

Out of concern for their safety, officers pat frisked Madden and five others standing around the car’s other open doors before discovering a firearm tucked partially under the vehicle’s driver’s seat where Madden briefly ducked out of sight. The firearm, a Sig Sauer 9 mm semiautomatic handgun, contained 12 rounds of ammunition in a high-capacity magazine and had an obliterated serial number, according to the press release. 

Madden was placed under arrest, while the other members of the group were released.

Madden will appear in the Suffolk County Gun Court on March 23.

Belmont’s New ‘Smart 911’ Now Ready for Residents

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A new free service is now in place to provide detailed information from residents to dispatchers as soon as a 911 call is placed.

As reported in the Belmontonian back in January, Smart911 is a national service that allows citizens to create a free Safety Profile for their household that includes data they want 911 and first responders to have in the event of an emergency. 

Beginning this week, residents can visit www.smart911.com to sign up and create a free Safety Profile for their household, providing information such as the names and photos of family members, health conditions, medications, pets in the home, vehicle details and emergency contacts.

All information in each profile is voluntary, and each household can determine what details are important to include, as each household is different and therefore the potential rescue needs will also vary.

The information is also available to public safety departments across the country which uses the Smart911 system, allowing first responders to know about allergies and pre-existing conditions for those with a profile.

 

Belmont Teen Arrested by Boston Police on Gun Charges

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Photo: The weapon recovered by Boston Police allegedly in the possession of a Belmont teen who is currently under arrest.

An 18-year-old Belmont resident was arrested by Boston Police early Saturday morning, Feb. 21, on gun charges after allegedly threatening a group of young people on the street with a high-caliber handgun.

Kenneth Madden, 18, was attested by Boston Police officers assigned to the Youth Violence Strike Force on Dudley Street at around 2:27 a.m. after he allegedly threatened a group of young people with a gun. After witnessing a group of about 20 young people running from what appeared to be an altercation, officers were told a young man had pointed a weapon at them.

Officers saw Madden, who matched the description given by witnesses, allegedly place “something” inside a car while in the company of several individuals who “appeared to have been involved in an altercation given the fact that several appeared to be bruised and bleeding,” according the police incident report.

A search of the vehicle enabled officers to locate and seize a loaded firearm – identified later as a Sig Sauer SP2022 Semi-automatic – under the front driver’s seat.

Madden is charged with Unlawful Possession of Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, Possession of Firearm with Altered Serial Number, Possession of a Loaded Firearm and Possession of a High Capacity Feeding Device.

As of Sunday, the Suffolk County District Attorney has not said when Madden will appear in District Court.

Belmont Fire Log: Damn the Ice Dams, Time Out for the Fire Alarm

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Now that’s a deep sleep

Feb. 9 – Just a few minutes ’til 5 a.m., Engine 1 was sent to a two-family on Harding Avenue because a smoke detractor was blaring and blaring. The people on the first floor said the second-floor residents were there, but they could not raise them. The crew forced their way into the apartment where they discovered visible smoke in the unit. Firefighters found and woke up the sound sleepers and along with the first-floor residents were evacuated. Turns out the smoke came from the fireplace where a small blaze was filling the apartment with smoke. Yup, a resident, closed the flue before making sure the fire was completely out. The fire was put out, and the place ventilated.

Damn, that ice dam

Feb. 9 – At a quarter past 9 a.m., firefighters arrived at a Hawthorne Street house where a resident was having an issue with a small amount of water leaking through the ceiling. Turns out there was an ice dam behind the gutter. Unfortunately for the resident, “there was nothing we could do nothing to rectify the issue,” stated firefighters.

Low-tech solution 

Feb. 9 – About ten minutes past 2 p.m., Engine 2 was dispatched to a location on Richardson Road by the town’s Water Department to investigate water flowing around a sidewalk/retaining wall area. The water was running down an occupant’s driveway and into his garage. The sump pump wasn’t working because the water level in a garage too shallow. So firefighters dammed up the water at the sidewalk by using snow and pushed water into the street using the homeowner’s shovel.

A poke a day

Feb. 10 – At a quarter past 5 a.m., a concerned call came from a Clark Street resident: water was dripping through a first-floor ceiling. A crew member used a pike pole to penetrate the ceiling to relieve the pressure and direct the flow of water. The homeowner was advised to call a contractor to remove the snow from the roof and also to assess any interior water damage.

Smokey flavor

Feb. 10 – At a quarter ’til 8 p.m., crews were sent to a home on Birch Hill Road for smoke in the house. Since it was around dinner time, one would suspect something to do with cooking causing the incident. Sure enough; the owner forgot about the food he was cooking on the stove top.

More damned dams

Feb. 11– At a quarter ’til 8 a.m., Engine 1 cruised over to a house on Payson Terrace for a reported “small water leak” from a roof ice dam that was leaking through a light fixture. The resident was told not to use the light, and the circuit breaker was shut down to the fixture. Firefighters advised the resident to call a roofer or contractor to fix the leak and have an electrician look at the fixture before turning the circuit back on.

Another damn dam

Feb. 11 – At 5:24 p.m., units were dispatched to a multifamily on Gordon Terrace as was water was falling through the kitchen smoke detector. The firefighters removed the damaged smoke detector, and the hazard removed.

Time out, fire alarm

Feb. 11 – At just about 6:30 p.m., Engine 2, Ladder 1, and Rescue 1 were sent to the High School when the fire alarm activated. Was it smoke, fire, a leaking roof that set the alarm off? Try a basketball. As the Belmont/Lexington Girls’ Basketball match (see featured image) was underway on the ground floor of the Wenner Field House, someone in the upstairs “Little Gym” used a ball to hit the alarm with a bulls-eye of a shot. The alarm was reset, and the game resumed (which Belmont won.)

Where there’s smoke, it’s probably steam

Feb. 11 – At 9:23 p.m., Engine 1 was sent to Robin Wood Road close-by the Lexington line for the report of smoke in the area. It wasn’t smoke; it was steam vapor coming from the house.

Love stalled

On Valentine’s Day, just before 7 p.m., a crew was sent to a house on Benton Road to free an elderly resident who became trapped in a stalled elevator. They got the person out, AOK.

Belmont Fire Log: Idling Vehicle Caused CO Alarms to Sound

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Locked out, the series

Feb. 2 – Just before 7:30 p.m., crews clambered to Slade Street to help a resident who locked themselves out of their home.

Water from the attic

Feb. 2 – Just after 7:30 p.m., Engine 1 took off for a York Road single family to investigate a water problem. Turns out a water leak developed in the attic and damaged not only the roof, but also knocked out a hard-wired, second-floor bedroom smoke detector. The firefighters advised the owner to contact a licensed electrician to check the wiring and contact a roof repair company. The homeowner decided to relocate her family at a local hotel for the night.

Dangerous act

Feb. 3 – A few minutes after 10 a.m., fire crews from Engine 2 and Rescue 1 were sent to a Thomas Street house after a carbon monoxide detector began sending an alarm to dispatchers. While the homeowners had just left as the fire equipment arrived, a neighbor let the companies into the house. Inside, the fire personnel did detect elevated levels of the gas. The friendly neighbor said he might know the reason for the spike in the readings: the homeowners had turned on and allowed their vehicle to idle in the attached garage.

Locked in, the series

Feb. 3 – At 20 minutes ’til 11 a.m., fire crews headed off to a location on Agassiz Avenue; a resident was locked-in a vehicle.

Long burn

Feb. 4 – Just about 4:30 p.m., firefighters were sent to check on a person in a building on Trapleo Road. They could find the person either inside or outside the dwelling, but they did discover the electric stove burner on.

Locked out, the series

Feb. 4 – At five minutes past 4:30 p.m., crews were dispatched to Garfield Road to help another resident who was locked out of their house.

Marsh gas

Feb. 5 – At a quarter ’til 6 p.m., firefighters headed out to a location on Marsh Street for a natural gas leak. A neighbor said leaking gas was an ongoing problem. It sure is; two days later, fire crews were dispatched once again to the same address for the same problem.

Solution turns into a problem

Feb. 6 – A little after 1 p.m., the entire fire force was off to a home on Shaw Road for a reported building fire. On arrival, the crews could see flames showing from the roof. As Engine 2 placed a roof ladder on the side of the house, it was discovered the heating wire meant to melt roof ice was on fire. As crews held the fire in check with a Dry-Chem extinguisher, the Ladder 1 firefighters entered the house to shut off the electricity. Once the power was off, the companies extinguished the fire and overhauled the scene. Wire inspectors responded along with the home owner to the inspect the damage.

 

Water Main Break Halts Traffic on Brighton/Blanchard, Repair by 4 PM

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A major water main broke around 9 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 10, on the north side of Brighton Street at the commuter rail tracks, causing the closure of an important cross town thoroughfare.

Belmont Police detoured traffic off of Blanchard Road from Concord Avenue to the commuter tracks and Brighton Street to Vale Road and the tracks to allow Department of Public Work crews to remove and repair the pipe that spewed water onto the roadway for a short time.

“We found a major crack in the pipe so it had to be removed and a new section cut at the DPW yard,” said Mark Mancuso, operations manager of the DPW’s Water Division.

There was some concern from the MBTA the water from the leak could freeze onto the commuter rail tracks, said Mancuso. That problem did not materialize, he added.

Mancuso said the pipe should be replaced and the road reopened by 4 p.m.

 

Schools Closed Monday, Parking Ban In Effect at Midnight, Trash Will Be Collected

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The Belmont Public Schools will be closed on Monday, Feb. 2, due to a pending snow storm that is expected to drop up to a foot of snow on the town. In addition, the Belmont Public Library and the Beech Street Center will be closed on Monday.

Beginning at midnight, Monday, Feb. 2, the town is declaring a snow emergency during which there will be a parking ban on on-street parking and in the three town municipal and six public school parking lots.

Trash and recycling pickup will occur on Monday despite the storm. Also, Town Offices will be open on Monday.