Soldering Torch Sparks Attic Fire in Newton

The fire broke out on North Street Wednesday, May 1.

A fire sparked by a contractor's soldering torch caused approximately $50,000 in damage at a North Street home yesterday.  Newton Fire crews responded to the scene around 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, May 1 after a neighbor reported the fire, according to a press release from the Newton Fire Department. The fire, which broke out in the attic of 59 North St., started when a contractor was soldering two sections of a copper gutter together, the press release said. Two dozen firefighters used multiple ladder trucks to reach the fire and managed to contain the flames to just the attic area in the corner of the house. No one was injured during the fire, the press release said. After opening up part of the roof and third floor ceiling to check if the …

• Photos (22)

Students Transported to Hospital After School Bus Crash in Newton

The bus involved was not a Newton bus and all injuries were minor.

State Fire Marshal's Office Determines Cause of Fatal Fire in Newton

The fire broke out at 30-32 Rowe St. on Friday, April 26.

A fire that took the life of an elderly Newton woman last week was caused by smoking, according to the State Fire Marshal's Office. "Sadly, this fire took the life of elderly woman who investigators believe was smoking on the porch," Newton Fire Chief Bruce Proia said in a statement. The fire broke out on a porch at 30-32 Rowe St. in Auburndale Friday morning, April 26. The fire was largely confined to the porch, according to fire officials. “This was a terrible weekend for fatal fires with one in Boston and Newton bringing the total fire and explosion deaths in 2013 to 22," Fire Marshal Stephen Coan said in a statement. “While smoking fires and related deaths are declining in Massachusetts, smoking caused 14 percent of home fire deaths in…

• Photos (1)

UPDATE: Deadly Afternoon Fire Under Investigation in Newton

Newton Fire Department confirms one fatality in a fire that was knocked down almost as soon as the alarm was called in.

An elderly woman died in a Friday afternoon fire at 48 Rowe St., Newton fire officials confirm. According to Twitter reports from earlier in the day, Newton firefighters responded to reports of smoke at the address near the intersection of Rowe Street and Prairie Avenue. The Twitter reports also indicate that the fire was knocked down within 3 minutes. Lt. Eric Frike told WCVB that the fire was contained to a porch without extension to the back of the house. WCVB reports that arson is a possibility. Fricke told Patch that representatives from the state fire marshal's office as well as the Newton Fire Department are investigating the cause and origin of the blaze. He said a full report is expected early next week.

• Photos (1)

Police: Vandals Set Fire to Trash Barrels in West Newton and Auburndale

Multiple barrel fires were reported early Monday morning.

Newton Police responded to multiple incidents of trash barrel fires in West Newton/Auburndale earlier this week. According to police reports, officers responded to four barrel fires early Monday morning, April 8.  The first incident was reported around 5 a.m. at South Gate Park, reports said. Both the Newton Police and Newton Fire departments responded to the scene, where a city-issued green recycle bin was on fire. The fire was quickly extinguished, but the fire slightly damaged the barrel. The second barrel fire was reported nearby on Kilburn Road just a short while later, around 5:15 a.m. Similar to the incident on South Gate Park, the Newton Fire Department extinguished the fire in the city-issued barrel, which was severely damaged. …

• Photos (1)

Fire Sparks in Basement Unit of Lexington Street Apartment Building [Updated]

One resident was transported to the hospital for smoke inhalation.

Updated 9:24 a.m.: An accidental cooking fire caused approximately $40,000 in damages to a Lexington Street apartment Monday night.  Newton firefighters responded to 181 Lexington St. Monday afternoon at 4:45 p.m. for reports of a fire in a basement studio apartment, according to a press release from the Newton Fire Department. When crews arrived on scene five minutes later, they found smoke throughout the three-story brick apartment building. Firefighters with Engine 2 were able to contain the fire to just the single studio apartment, the press release said. According to scanner reports, the fire was knocked down just before 5 p.m. Crews and investigators were cleared of the scene by 6:15 p.m. The resident of the studio unit was …

• Photos (1)

Gas Leak Reported on Florence Street in Newton

Construction crews working in the area struck a gas main earlier this afternoon.

Florence Street in Newton is shut down this afternoon after construction crews struck a gas main in the area, according to an alert issued by the Newton Police Department. The road is open only to residents and cross streets, the alert said.  Drivers can expect heavy traffic delays in the area of Route 9 and Hammond Pond Parkway as crews work to fix the gas main, which occurred near 177 Florence St. Other construction nearby on Hammond Pond Parkway will also cause back-ups. Keyspan is on scene working with Newton Police and Newton Fire, the alert said. Looking for more Newton police and fire news? Follow Newton Patch on Facebook and Twitter, or sign up for our email newsletters. According to scanner reports, the gas main incident happened …

• Photos (1)

Newton Fire Crews Rescue Injured Hiker [Photos]

The incident happened Sunday, March 17 around 11 a.m.

The Newton Fire Department rescued a hiker Sunday morning after he was injured on a trail off Hammond Pond Parkway.  A call came in just after 11 a.m. for a runner who had fallen in the woods, according to Newton Fire Department Spokesman Lt. Eric Fricke. The hiker sustained a shoulder injury and was transported to Beth Israel Hospital in Boston.  Engine 3 and Ambulance 1 initially responded to the scene and Medic 1 and Ladder 2 were called a short while later for additional manpower, Fricke said in an email. Photographer Stephen Walsh, who responded to the scene Sunday, told Newton Patch the 27-year-old male was competing in an event when he fell. According to Fricke, the Newton Fire Department receives a couple of calls a year for …

• Photos (4)

Firefighters Quickly Extinguish Porch Fire in Newton Upper Falls

The fire broke out at a Hale Street home Thursday evening.

Newton firefighters made quick work of a porch fire Thursday evening in Newton Upper Falls.  Crews received a call just after 5:30 p.m. Thursday from a resident at 42 Hale St. who reported smelling smoke in the building. Engine 7 and Ladder 2 arrived on scene four minutes later to find a fire in the second floor walls of an enclosed, three-story porch, according to a press release from the Newton Fire Department. Firefighters opened the interior walls of the porch on both the second and third floors to find and extinguish the fire before it reached the attic, the press release said.  There were no injuries reported and residents were able to stay in the home, as the fire was contained to the exterior porch.  Fire investigators have …

• Photos (1)

Two People Hospitalized After West Newton Crash Wednesday Night

The accident occurred just after 9:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Two people were transported to area hospitals Wednesday night after a head-on collision in West Newton, according to the Newton Fire Department. In a post on its Twitter feed this morning, the Fire Department said the accident occurred near the intersection of Cherry Street and Derby Street. Engine 4 and Ladder 1 responded to the scene. According to Newton Police Lt. Bruce Apotheker, a call for the two-car accident came in at 9:36 p.m. The accident location was around 154 Cherry St. Newton Police and Fire could not provide additional details on the accident at this time. The crash remains under investigation. Breaking News Network alerts from Wednesday night indicated that the crash caused serious injury and that a second EMS unit was …

• Photos (3)