Fire at 200 Boyalston Street rear of the building February 9, 2000.
Twenty years ago today, February 9, 2000, in the early afternoon I was in the Newton TAB offices when someone called in about a fire in Chestnut Hill. I was asked if I could take a run over and check it out. Often these calls ended up being a toaster fire or an overheated car radiator. Not wanting to go on a wild goose chase, I called the Newton Fire Chief’s office to ask what was going on. The secretary answered and when I identified myself, she said something like “I don’t have time for this” and hung up the phone. Something big was going on.
I told the editor that I would head over and check it out. Two reporters accompanied me and as we drove up Route 9 a huge plume was smoke was visible in the distance. That week’s issue of the paper was close to deadline. For the first and only time in my career, I called the Newton editor and said “Hold the presses…hold the front page it’s something big.” The car was stuck in traffic, so I hopped out and ran up the street to the scene.
Arriving at the 200 block of Boyalston Street (Route 9) there were many fire engines and ladder trucks. All sorts of mayhem. There were people all over the place and hoses covering the ground. Smoke was billowing out of the building in such a quantity that at one point the wind shifted and I was engulfed, literally not being able to see my hand one inch in front of my face.
Newton had 10 companies there, along with companies from 10 other communities. Because there was so much going on all around, the overwhelmed police didn’t really push the photographers back, as long as, you kept your distance and didn’t get in the way.
In the aftermath, five people perished in the blaze . It was a sad day in Newton’s history, one that will always be remembered by those who were there. Twenty years later the site has been rebuilt. It is now the complex that houses Wegman’s and other stores. The scars of destroyed buildings have been erased but the memories will remain forever.
Lone police officer walks through the smoke at 200 Boyalston Street, Newton. Scene of February 9, 2000 fire where five people lost their lives.
Fire at 200 Boyalston Street, Newton on February 9, 2000.
Infuriating NECN documentary “The Forgotten Fire” –
https://vimeo.com/5425084
Thanks for sharing this Keith.
Oh and “two reporters” accompanied you! Those were the days.
Thank you for sharing your memories of this sad event, Keith. Hard to believe it’s already been 20 years.
@Michael – thank you for posting that video, definitely worth watching and very infuriating. Also reinforces my suspicions of how bad Newton’s inspectional services department was back then.
It was a tragic day in Newton history and five lives were lost. If I’m remembering correctly though, the Chestnut Hill fire resulted in changes to the building codes that haved saved many lives since. Again from memory, I believe Newton Rep. Ruth Balser deserves much of the credit for that legislation.
I remember this fire so well. I was home on maternity leave with my second child. Between the hormones and the sad stories from the families who lost loved ones and it being so close to home and later learning the gross negligence, it was so upsetting.
Amazing that the facts were never presented to a Grand Jury and no indictments brought.
Thanks for sharing Keith.
So sad the loss of life. I remember that day well because I was at the Chestnut Hill Mall and when I came out I noticed a plume of smoke across from route 9. I had a Birdseye view from the parking lot, and must have stood there for at least an hour with a fairly large group of other concerned shoppers.
I moved to Newton in 1998, and this fire will NEVER be forgotten. I never understood how a fire exit could be blocked. This NECN story uncovered so many things for me, such as the lax inspections, the flimsy fire doors, delay in calling the fire department, etc.
My blood started to boil after the landlord was found guilty in a civic case and owed the deceased family insurance money and the families had to take the landlord to court a second time to get the money released.
Question: Does this landlord own other buildings?
The deceased will never be forgotten.
There were many heroes that day from the first responders.
And I seem to recall Legal Seafoods bringing the first responders food during the crisis.
May this never happen again.