Belmont Fire Log: Fire Up the Garbage Collectin' Barrels

Mischievous minor, maybe?
Sept. 23 – At a quarter 'til 6 p.m., the entire fire squad was sent to Belmont High School for what turned out to a "mischievous" false call. Someone – no one is staying it was or was not a student – set off a dry chemical fire extinguisher in the lobby of the Field House causing the smoke detector to go off. No one was hurt ... or caught.

Get me out!
Sept. 25 – Just before 10:30 a.m., Engine 1 was sent to Grove Street to unlock a resident's vehicle and retrieve an infant that was accidentally locked inside. No injuries, no damages.

Gettin' rid of trash the old fashion way in Belmont 
Sept. 26 – At ten past 11 a.m., Engine 2 was sent to Woodfall Road in response to a call that their was an outside fire near a single-family house. Turns out it was a double barrel full of fun, and I do mean double barrels; it was a rubbish fire in two garbage bins that Belmont Police said was shooting flames out of the tops. Turns out the homeowner said she was indeed "burning paper and wood" inside a pair of metal waste barrels in her back yard. The crew from Engine 1 extinguished the fire while police officers informed the property owner of Belmont's "no open burning" bylaw as well as the dangers associated with that activity. 

Let's dig ... here
Sept. 26 – At a quarter 'til 2 p.m., Engine 2 was sent to single-family house on Glendale Road after workers hit and punctured a flexible gas line while digging approximately 20 feet from the building. While awaiting the arrival of the gas company, firefighters performed a check of the surrounding homes and found "normal" readings. The gas company arrived on scene and after several minutes its supervisor said that Engine 1 was no longer needed.

Honey, I forgot the salt and common sense
Sept. 27 – At ten minutes after 3 p.m., all companies of the Belmont Fire Department – Engine 1 and 2, the Ladder Truck, Rescue 1 and command cars – were sent racing to a Belmont Housing Authority building on Trapelo Road after calls of smoke in a multi-family building. The Engine 1 crew then found smoke coming from the side of the building. The crews soon gained entry into a ground-floor apartment to find ... food burning on the stove top and no one in the apartment. Possibly they forgot the one spice or cut of meat that would make the meal special and stepped out to get it. Engine 1 removed the smoldering contents and checked if any of the fire had spread. Then guess who showed up? The apartment's residents. Good thing the Rescue crew was on site as one of the occupants required a "medical assessment" on the scene. While the Fire Department requested an Advanced Life Saving ambulance, the now patient refused further care or a trip to the hospital.