A mid-morning blaze heavily damaged the top floors of a rental residence on Trapelo Road near the intersection of Belmont Street, snarling traffic on the busy thoroughfare on Friday, April 5. No one was injured in the incident.
The two-alarm fire started near or close to the rear porch of the 99-year-old two family owned by a Lexington couple. Belmont Fire Chief David Frizzell said it was too soon to determine what caused the fire that brought mutual aid from Watertown, Arlington
The 10:05 a.m. call reporting the fire to Belmont dispatchers was made by Belmont Fire Lt. Dave Toomey who was off-duty when he passed the structure as heavy plumes of dark, acetic smoke emerged from the house.
“I was sitting at the light when I saw a plume of smoke,” Toomey told the Belmontonian.
Toomey saw a young man at a first-floor window and told him and his cat to get out. Toomey with the assistance from Belmont Police entered the building where he knocked
Asked if he had any apprehension entering a burning building, Toomey said “I’ve been doing this for 23 years so this is second nature.”
Belmont crews arrived shortly after the call was received. After attacking the flames engulfing the second floor back landing, firefighters cut holes in the roof and broke open windows.
Belmont Street was closed from Pine Street to Payson Road for more than two hours.
Approximately an hour after the first alarm was sent, the fire has nearly knocked down all for some lingering hot spots. Frizzell said the second floor suffered extensive damage of upwards to $100,000.
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