Copyright 2005 Boston Herald Inc.
The Boston Herald
By BRIAN BALLOU
A raging blaze that caused extensive damage early yesterday to a Gloucester home could have been prevented from spreading if the nearest fire station, shuttered last year by budget cuts, was open, said the city’s fire chief.
“Certainly if a closer crew had got there and attacked it before the flames started blowing out the windows, it could have been a better outcome,” said Fire Chief Barry McKay.
The closed Magnolia Station, at 30 Fuller St., is approximately a minute from 25 Norman Ave., where the fire occurred. It took firefighters, traveling from the city’s headquarters at 8 School St. and West Gloucester Station at 33 Concord St., eight minutes to arrive.
“I’m very upset at the response,” said Eunice Geary, mother of homeowner Julie Geary. “I was on Washington Street five miles away and got there before the fire trucks did. There’s a quarter of a million dollars in damage to my daughter’s home that could have been prevented.”
Cliff Geary, Julie’s son, said the fire started on the second floor, perhaps from a tipped candle or heated blanket. “My sister came out and her head was on fire, so I covered her with a sheet to put out the flames and took her downstairs and told my mom to call 911. I tried to go back up and put the fire out with an extinguisher, but it was too dangerous, so we all got out.” His sister, Bryanna, suffered minor neck and hand burns.
The family was just days away from wrapping up extensive renovations to the house. They are now staying at a friend’s house in Manchester.
McKay said the Magnolia Station has been closed since July 2004 because of budget reductions. The city had sought an override to keep it funded, but it failed 4-1.
Mayor John Bell said, “It certainly would be a safety net to have that station staffed.” He said the city has lost about $3.8 million in local aid in the past four years. “We’ll keep working hard to petition the commonwealth for more fairness in local aid, and if there was an outpouring from the public here to put the question on the ballot again we would allow them the right to do that.”