Belmont Fire Log: The Flood At The Church

Fore! 

June 30 – A minute past half-past 10 a.m., all units of the Belmont Fire Department were sent to the current clubhouse at the Belmont Country Club on Winter Street reported a smoke detector going off. Turns out that the alarm was set off by moisture in the detector. The next day, July 1 at 5:12 p.m., the crews were back for another false alarm; this time for a faulty duct smoke detector. 

Too much smoke in your eyes

July 1 – Just after 11 p.m., Engine 1 was sent to the intersection of Maple and Walnut streets for a great deal of smoke in the area. They soon found the culprit: a fire pit near a Walnut Street house.  The residents were ordered to extinguish the fire due to the excessive smoke it was causing in the neighborhood. Engine 1 used a water extinguisher to extinguish the blaze. 

Flood on the Fourth

July 4 – Just after 8 p.m., all of Belmont Fire companies – Engine 1 and 2, Ladder 1 and the Rescue unit along with a Watertown Fire engine – rushed to Payson Park Church on Belmont Street to investigate a fire alarm that was ringing. The crew from Engine 1 reported a problem with the sprinkler system in the church's basement: turns out that flowing water from a sprinkler branch line buildup and broke through causing the drop ceiling to collapse. Companies reported no smoke or fire in the basement or first floor. Ladder 1 assisted Engine 1 in shutting down the sprinkler system while the heating unit and power was disconnected to the main electrical panel. Fire personnel requested that representatives from the church and the town's Building Inspector respond to the scene. Since both the sprinkler and alarm systems were red tagged for service, the building could not be occupied until all systems have been serviced by qualified technicians and are operational. Caution tape was placed across the access doors to the basement and front door of the church.