NFPA Journal - Winter 2021 - 75

Assembly
MASSACHUSETTS
Fire in church rectory causes $1.5
million in damage
A fire of unknown origin began in a
void space in the kitchen of a church
rectory and eventually caused significant
damage. Firefighters worked in
difficult winter conditions before bringing
the fire under control over four
hours after arrival.
The fire department was alerted to
the fire by a 911 call at 5:58 p.m. after
an occupant smelled smoke and discovered
the fire in a kitchen. Arriving
crews found heavy fire venting from
windows on the second floor and showing
on the top floor of a three-story
building attached to the church. Crews
set up two ladder pipes in a parking lot
adjacent to the church for fire attack
and used attack lines at two staircases
inside the structure to keep fire from
spreading to the church.
Interior crews did not move beyond
the second floor due to questionable
integrity of the second and third floors.
Incident command reported that ice
buildup on the street and alleyways
caused numerous slips and falls.
The fire was knocked down in the
rectory by the outside ladder pipes and
handlines. Crews began clearing the
scene by 11 p.m. A pump remained at
the scene through the night as a precautionary
fire watch.
Investigators determined that the fire
started in a void space in the kitchen
ceiling on the first floor. The occupant
had gone to the kitchen to investigate
a smell but returned to his office when
he could not find anything burning. He
discovered the fire approximately one
hour later in an upstairs apartment.
Reports indicated smoke detectors
were only located in a first-floor
office area.
The building was constructed with
wood and brick walls, a wood floor,
and a wood roof deck covered with
slate. It occupied a ground-floor area
of 15,000 square feet (1,393 square
meters). The fire caused $1 million
damage to the building, valued at
$5 million. The contents, valued at
$500,000, were a total loss.
Educational/Day Care
NORTH CAROLINA
Fire that began in landscaping mulch
forces evacuation of day care facility
A mulch fire was blamed for an early
afternoon blaze at a day care facility
that forced the evacuation of 30 children
and nine adults, but no injuries
were reported in the incident.
Firefighters responded to the scene
at approximately 1 p.m. after occupants
called 911 to report a grass fire.
YOU CAN HELP MAKE
THEIR JOB A LOT SAFER.
Controlling indoor airflow can be one
of the most effective ways to minimize
fire damage and lower the risk to fire
fighters. Positive Pressure Ventilators
(PPVs) help battle fires and smoke more
effectively. For enhanced protection and
peace of mind, choose AMCA certified
PPVs and fire/smoke dampers. Don't
chance it. Check AMCA.org/certify.
STAND FOR A HIGHER STANDARD
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NFPA Journal - Winter 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NFPA Journal - Winter 2021