Around Town

UPDATED: Pile of Trash Left on Main Street After Garbage Truck Catches Fire

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@WatertownMANews someone dumped a huge pile of trash on Main Street! pic.twitter.com/qLSNMIZi8S
— Don MacDonald (@don_macdonald) October 28, 2017
{This story was updated at 2:11 p.m. on Oct. 21}

A large pile of trash was left on Main Street near the Watertown Central Fire Station after a garbage truck caught on fire Saturday morning. Public Works Superintendent Gerald Mee said his department is working on removing the pile, which appears from a photo to be several feet high and take up about three parking spaces. The truck was a commercial truck owned by Republic, Mee said.

Fire

Firefighter Dies Fighting a 2 Alarm Fire in East Watertown

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A Watertown firefighter died after collapsing while fighting a two alarm fire on Merrrield Avenue Friday morning. Watertown Police Chief Michael Lawn choked up as he told the media that a Watertown firefighter had lost his life. “Our officers in were able to evacuate two people from the home as well as some pets,” Lawn said at about noon. “During the course of the fire a firefighter collapsed. He was transported to Mt.

Fire

Two Alarm Fire Badly Damages Home on Howard Street

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Watertown Fire fighters put out a two-alarm fire that badly damaged one of three units of a house on Howard Street, and displaced five people. 

The fire was reported at 5:56 p.m. When Watertown firefighters and police arrived at 15 Howard St., it appeared the fire was just on the exterior of the building, but the flames had spread, said Watertown Fire Capt. Ryan Nicholson. “A gentleman was using a propane torch to weed his driveway and it caught some of the siding (on fire),” Nicholson said. “It extended into the interior.” The second alarm was called because the fire was in an area with other homes close by. The first police and firefighters on the scene were able to evacuate an older woman in a wheelchair before she suffered any injuries.

Police/Fire

Fire that Destroyed 2 Cars in Watertown Garage Under Investigation

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A fire that erupted in the early hours of Friday morning and destroyed two cars at a Watertown home remains under investigation. The fire occurred around 1:30 a.m. on Friday, May 13 in a detached garage at a home on Phillips Street, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. “When officers arrived the two car garage was fully engulfed (in flames),” O’Connor said. “They were able to evacuate residents and there were no injuries.” The garage had no doors on the front, and was made from metal.

Fire

Fire Destroys 2 Boats at Yacht Club Across River from Watertown

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A fire at the Newton Yacht Club destroyed two boats on the Charles River just across the way from Watertown. 

The fire erupted in the early hours of Tuesday morning and firefighting efforts were hampered by the long distance to the nearest fire hydrant, according to the Boston Globe article. The Yacht Club is located on Nonantum Road, across the river from Perkins School for the Blind. See the whole Globe article here.

Police/Fire

Watertown Firefighters Douse Fire on Eastside of Town

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A fire started by a worker doing plumbing work damaged a home on the Eastside of Watertown on Saturday night. The fire started around 11 p.m., and damaged the exterior of the home on Cottage Lane, said Watertown Deputy Fire Chief Tom McManus. “It was started by a plumber’s torch,” McManus said. “They were doing some work in the basement and it started a fire in the wall, which extended to the outside of the wall.” Firefighters were called about 11:13 p.m. and doused the flames.

Police/Fire

Downed Power Line Sparks Fire, Knocks Out Power

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A downed power line caused a small fire in the yard of a Watertown home on Thursday morning. At about 5:45 a.m., the electrical line fell onto the front lawn of a house on Spring Street near Fayette Street – a couple blocks from Watertown Square. Firefighters responded quickly but had to wait for an Eversource crew to come and shut off power before the flames could be doused. Power was cut in the neighborhood and a section of Spring Street was been closed while the line is repaired. Eversource restored power at about 8:45 a.m.