Three-alarm fire hits Boylston Street building

Saw no flames, smelled no smoke and elected not to enter the building to investigate further? Another Boston Fire Department farce. What is it with these guys?

That's about 3 blocks from the boylston st. fire department....

We are residents in the eight storey "adjacent building" mentioned in this story. We were woken up by firefighters banging on our door in the morning with the back of an axe!

They were going up our building, trying to get people evacuated, but for some reason they chose not to use the excellent emergency alarm and PA system that has been fitted throughout our building. It must have taken them much longer to get people out this way, which seems very strange.

Our building was not on fire, but it has seen EXTENSIVE smoke and water damage due to the firefighting efforts, which can't be helped, I guess. But there is total carnage throughout our building. What is really surprising is that the firefighters have smashed down all of the internal doors with axes – in a building that wasn't on fire – and have caused tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage. I know that nothing should be left to chance when there's a possibility of human lives at risk, but it certainly seems they have been a little bit heavy handed here.

obviously they are too busy arguing about drug testing and looking to take false disability

The firefighters were probably drunk and coked up. What's new???

They are out heroes and you should not question them.

lol

If only one of the stores involved had been a liquor store-- you know if they had an alarm at one of those they would have gone in to "investigate".

I think most Bostonians would consider this location to be "Back Bay," not "downtown Boston" as the headline has it.

What would you do you if you came to the same conclusions? Start breaking everything down in search of fire? Decide to just start laying down lines for the heck of it?

Why don't you let them do their job and you keep on doing yours.

Type your comment here...if we broke into every building alarm - we would break into 2O buildings a day. Don't comment when you know nothing idiot.

The fire departments respond to hundreds of these type of calls per year; if they were to break in, and there was no fire, the owners scream due to the damage. If the owners were responsible, they would have had a key available in the event of an emergency, or the alarm company could have responded with a key. Don't blame the fire dept

Seems a little "fishy."

1 million dollar in damage + lost revenue to the businesses involved + lost wages to the employees= amount the City will end up paying for this latest f-up from the Fire Department. The firehouse is located a couple hundred yards from the building-- my guess is they rolled out of bed, drove down the street, didn't see anything and just kept on going. How extensive was their initial "investigation" before the left? According to the accompanying video, the worker smelled smoke and called the fire department-- what is this BS about the fire department couldn't get into the building. 20 minutes later the same worker called the firemen back to put out the fire they should have put out in the first place. My guess is these guys were near the end of their shift and much more interested in gettign out on time so they could go to their second job as landscaper or plumber.

They actually left the scene of an alarm because they didn't investigate? Holy crap. What is with the BFD? If I were the owner of that building I would be on the phone with my lawyers immediately planning a law suite. Idiots.

This is in response to the 1st posted comment. You are apparently oblivious as to the job of the Boston Fire Dept and what it entails. They respond to false alarms all day and night long, if they broke into every alarm that showed no sign of smoke or fire there would be countless IRATE property owners in the city of Boston. You should really be educated before you throw your opinion all over the place.

Hmmm, alarms go off for a reason. What is that saying... better safe than sorry.

Flames don't need to be jumping out the windows for them to be there. While there are some people that abused workers comp I'm sure, in general, the fire department isn't a farce.

I believe earlier this week the fire alarm went off at crate and barrell and there was smoke at that time so maybe they didn't put the whole thing out and it began again.... Not good.

"Farce" ? to the above comment. If the fire department burst into every alarm that went off, I'm quite sure they would be getting sued on a daily basis considering they respond to multiple "alarms" that turn out to be "nothing."

willard

the bfd responds to tens of thousands of alarms per year. when we respond to a building during non- business hours, we do an exterior inspection to make sure there is no fire or smoke showing from the building. would you have us smash in the front doors and windows of every business that has an accidental activation of their smoke detectors? i think business owners would be none too pleased by that. keep your comments to something you understand, like dungeons and dragons, you horse's ass.

Please read a little more carefully Willard, "Saw no flames, smelled no smoke and CHOSE not to BREAK into the bulding, and left." Not a farce just real men doing a real job! Thanks BFD

$1 million in damage and they worry about a door lock. they have tools to get into every building without causing too much damage. then they had to call out a third alarm and three guys get hurt. it's good to have insurance.

Do you realize how many false alarms they respond to? You would be the same person who rips them for breaking into a building that didn't turn out to be on fire.

Hey Willard, you have the guts to become a firefighter? No? Do you show up to save lives and take on a dangerous fire that could kill you and leave your ? No? Then don't you dare criticize... just sit behind your keyboard and act like a tough guy.

Apparently this was a pretty half-assed inspection. Looks like more lawsuits for the BFD

Eric
The Boston Fire Dept is a joke. Over paid and under performing. Is it shocking that these guys all mysteriously come up with career ending injuries that tax payers take the hit for? Hell, I'd quit my day job if I could live the life of these guys. Unfortunately some of these guys are genuine firefighters who risk their lives, but this old boys network of firefighters are like typical union employees, just milking the system at eveyone else's expense. I bet if we hired immigrants to fight fires, this one would NOT have got out of control!

Eric
The Boston Fire Dept is a joke. Over paid and under performing. Is it shocking that these guys all mysteriously come up with career ending injuries that tax payers take the hit for? Hell, I'd quit my day job if I could live the life of these guys. Unfortunately some of these guys are genuine firefighters who risk their lives, but this old boys network of firefighters are like typical union employees, just milking the system at eveyone else's expense. I bet if we hired immigrants to fight fires, this one would NOT have got out of control!

So let me see if I got this right-- they respond to a fire alarm but don't force entry to investigate. The building continues to burn for the next 20 minutes until they're called back to put out the fire. Now that they know there is a fire, they go into the adjacent building and break down doors (see comment #3) to wake people up. Can one of the firemen that have posted here please tell us exactly how long the fire department was on scene doing a "thorough investigation" of the first alarm? My bet is it was a couple of minutes and then they went back to finish their nap-- a couple of minutes to investigate a multi level commercial building. Nicely done.

As a member of the business community I have had more than my fair share of false alarms at multiple locations of my organization. If the fire department broke into every false alarm - even if the damage was minor - it would cost thousands of dollars to repair. False alarms are especially frequent when it rains - usually resulting in some type of false alarm inside the air ducts of businesses. It is up to the business owner to make sure a key holder is getting to that business as quick as they can to meet the fire department to let them in. The number of false alarms far out number actual fires. Do you want your door broke down everytime you burn something in the oven and your smoke detector goes off??

If all you people who are badmouthing the BFD think your so smart and can do the job better get off your ass and take the exam. I suspect your mouths are writing checks your body can't cash cause you can't do the job. Its easy to sit behind your computer and be a coward.

Willard? You woudn't have the guts to be a firefighter NOR would they accept a coward who obviously has NO clue what the job entails. Sit back and continue to give your opinion that has no merit behind it. FOOL!

I'm not sure what standard procedures are in cases like this, but if the fire department HAD broken into the building... with their axes... it would have caused a huge amount of damage just as holiday shopping is ramping up. If it was a false alarm, which happens ALL THE TIME, the companies who own the stores (and the property) would have been furious (and probably sued for the lost revenue). And as for the person living next door, shouldn't your excellent emergency alarm system have been activated by the flames, smoke or heat?

I think that the entire concept of fire safety in Boston is flawed. It's not only fire depts that deal with so many false alarms, but sometimes the people that live in the buildings. This breeds a lackadaisical attitude surrounding these alarms. Many times i have heard, "its probably just someone burning their toast." Why is it that fire alarms cant discern from burnt toast and wood or electrical fires? Why is it that people don't realize how scary it is that no one takes fire alarms seriously? I only hope that this is just the back bay that has this attitude.

Hey- you firemen need to get your story straight. During contract time, all we hear about is what heroes you guys are and how youre constantly running into burning buildings. Now you screw up and you are quick to point out (quite acurately I must add) about how you respond to dozens of false alarm calls all day long. Finally the truth comes out-- a vast majority of fire department calls are responding to false alarms. You're best defense on this screw up is going to be citing statistics about how such a high percentage of your calls are for alarms and how 99% of them turn out to be nothing. Of course, that's not going to fit very well into your "hero" mentality you like to portray. Where's Edzo when we need him to explain how this fire fire never would have started if you guys had a contract.

Go easy on the boys of Engine 33 and Ladder 15. It was early, and they were tired after a long night of chatting up the college girls waiting in line to get into Dillon's right next to the station.

What the heck does this city want?? these guys are "Damned if they do, and Damned if they don't" and frankly I am sick and tired of the disrespect to the guys that are there to do the right thing!!

Typical comments made by a bunch of fickle Bostonians. After 9/11 occurred, we couldn't love the fire department anymore than we did. Now, we go out of our way to discredit them and ridicule them for doing their jobs. Strangely enough, we do the same thing when it comes to our sports teams as well. when they are winning, they are the best and when they lose they all suck. sensing a theme here? Shame on all of you!

Don't know if it's standard on BFD trucks but I used to work for a fire dept in a civilian role and our guys had a handheld heat sensing device they could use to detect if there was something going on behind a wall - wonder if this was used in this case, or if you had to get inside the building to get close enough to tell?

BFD is not all bad - there are some good eggs I know personally but it is true they have suffered a lot of problems over the past few years with their personnel and leadership. Just glad nobody was badly hurt here.

Perhaps we should give the BFD the respect they deserve. I be that there will be a full investigation and the details and the truth will be revealed. Sheeesh, give the hard working fire fighters a break. They are ALL willing to risk their lives to save YOURS! Despite a few mistakes of a few fire fighters, they are all courageous men and women determined to save lives and structures!

So every time a car alarm goes off, the cops should just start shooting their guns? Alarms go off for a reason, so OBVIOUSLY the only conclusion is the car is being stolen, right? Ever heard the term false alarm you donkeys? Has your smoke detector ever gone off because of dust or something NOT smoke? Have a little common sense.

The use of poor grammar throughout these comments is sad. I think some of you have bigger issues than trying to figure out how to slight the BFD.

Do you think the fire department on Boylston stopped creepily oogling the women walking by to put this fire out? I doubt it

If the landlord had choosen to provide a KNOXBOX on the outside of the building which holds the keys to the building for the FD & PD, BFD would have entered the building to check the alarm. Many times a day (and night) alarms go off with a visual check of the exterior of the building made by the FD. 99.9% of the time nothing is found as the alarm is false. So, for the Saturday Morning Quarterbacks who speak with no knowledge, you would be screaming about the damage done to the entrance had nothing been found on an interior search..

Hate to break the news to you-- that building does have a knox box. You are also overlooking the piece of video accompanying the story in which the restaurant worker says he smelled smoke and called the FD and they came and told him there was nothing wrong. He then says he called again 20 minutes later. Sounds like they had access during the first visit and either didn't use it, or didn't do a thorough job.

fire alarms don't ALWAYS go off for a reason. Did you know that a smoke detector doesn't know if it's actually smoke? Probably not. What happens is that the sensor in the detector says something is here. It measures particulate. That particulate could be from many things including smoke, steam, water, dust, spiders, etc. Ask a member of the fire marshal's office how they test smoke detectors. There's two ways that are most popular one type you can set off with magnet other you use what they call "canned smoke" that is an aersol type spray that creates enough particulate to set off the detector.

Not all fireighters are also given the information on the "evac systems" used in buildings, they vary from building to building, the company officer may have been a fill-in or recent transfer as may have been the district chief. Sometimes fire prevention offices fail to pass this information down to the companies. Next time maybe they'll leave you in your building and you can figure it out for yourself and you wont hav eto worry about your precious doors.

So if you aren't sure what you speak of, it's easier to keep your mouth shut.

Mandate Knox Box Devices:

Many Cities and towns have mandated Knox Box entry systems. External boxes built into the side of the building that can be opened by the first company to arrive via a special key kept on the fire truck that will allow the first responders to open the Knox Box device that houses appropriate keys for the building in question. The access to the "special" key in the apparatus is controlled by central dispatch which sends a signal to allow the access on the truck, thus a record and audit trail is in place so the FD isn't accused of breaking in!!

Saves time, saves money, reduces damage, and saves lives.

I live right around the corner and saw the mess today where the fire was. While the BFD has it's problems, just like every other city dept, they do a job none of us here is willing to do. I've seen them go into buildings on fire in the middle winter with freezing temps and fire coming out of the roof. The entire block would have burnt down if they didn't get out in -10 deg temps and spend 8 hours fighting the fire. I couldn't even watch for 15 min without freezing my but off. Give these guys a break and don't believe everything you hear from the media.

What makes everyone think this went out of control? No buildings condemned and no serious injuries. Also no further damage to the next restaurant. Job well done. Maybe the owner should have fixed the electrical problem a couple weeks ago when they had the previous problem.

what about starting over, the entire BFD. Let's trown away all this lazy and fat guys. They must be in good shape, otherwise they have no intent to climb a stair to check something up. Let then sip lattes and eat some donuts. Leave the guys alone.

Oh No! I am sure Abe & Louies is still open

It's funny, Im on the FD in Dorchester, and we receive nothing but support for doing our jobs in this neighbohood. In the back bay though, all the uptight nancies looking for something to bitch about on a rainy satuday start blasting guys for doing their job. It's the same part of town that was opposed to putting up a statue on Comm Ave for the 9 firefighters who died at the vendome. Take a 5 miute walk around the corner, read the names of guys who died protecting your neighborhood and maybe you'll learn some manners, if not appreciation.

I love how people are experts on telling us how the fire dept. operates and the guy who said he saw no flames or smoke and called the fire dept a farce. It's so true that we live in a world where even when people do the right thing its not enough. I was at the fire for a couple of hours working my ass off along with all of my brothers. There was plenty of smoke Coward!

Isn't it lovely how we've turned into such a litigary minded society?
Everyone's comments point to the lawsuit angle in some way or another.
Looking for someone to blame with money at the forefront of their mind.
Personal property damage, Commercial property damage, Retail/Sales damage, Personal Injury issues.

Thank you past-fd for mentioning KNOXBOX.
Why doesn't Boston have a city ordinance requiring KNOXBOX?
Wouldn't everyone feel safer knowing that if an alarm goes off, the Fire Department can get inside the building quickly and easily?
With information concerning the disabled or elderly or children's whereabouts in their hands as they walk through the door?

Walking into a fire is pure danger! What the BFD needs is information and access at the front door which can only lessen the risk for everyone involved. Wondering about a future lawsuit is the last thing any firefighter or other emergency worker needs on his or her mind when dealing with a crisis.

As a Landlord, I have fire department lock boxes on many of my buildings.They have master keys in them that fit all the doors..The Fire trucks carry the Medico key to the box.. This is required in many communities on certain building. Was this the case in Boston??? For $300-400 I don't have doors broken down !!!!

I've no idea whether the Fire Department did the right thing or not. But I will say the Fire Department used to get, and deserve, a lot of respect, but the Fire Department Unions have blown it.

Can't expect to screw the taxpayers and have them respect you too. (Same applies to the other municipal unions of course)

Lumpy Rutherford, You sound jealous. We don't walk by your house and complain about your relationship with Sheep.

Willard, I think your brains dribbled out of your Mommies mouth during conception.

Bob Who, Dyslexia is a terrible thing to waste. Keep up the good work, Moron!

We love breaking down doors and breaking windows. Its the best therapy you could ask for.

whether or not proper protocols were followed, let's not forget firefighters do more than fight fires... they are on the scene at gruesome auto accidents, medical emergencies, and other catastrophies that most of us wouldn't want to be exposed to. i doubt any one of you naysayers would say anything negative to a firefighter if you were in need.

If it was at Abe & Louis, you betta believe those firfefighters would be breaking down doors at the first call

in response to post # 18. yes crate and barrel was evacuated last week due to co2 emissions. there was no fire or smoke involved. it was a totally separate incident.

Until one of you critics walks into a building that is on fire while others are running out, your comments are simply rude. These men work to protect you, and put their own health at risk while doing so.

I am a firefighter currently working in another large city in Massachusetts. We make about 15,000 emergency runs a year.Many of these runs are for alarms. We, like Boston, do the best we can to investigate whether something is going on inside these buildings. Many building owners fail to maintain there systems, provide keys in a "knoxbox",[exterior locking box that holds keys], contact numbers,name changes, ect. ect.. We can only do the best we can. We may not be heros everyday, but i will guarantee you 99% of the men and women that work everyday as firefighters in this great state of Massachusetts take extreme pride in the work we do. At 2:00am,3:00am, whatever, we are ready to answer the call. Be it your mother needing to get picked up after a fall and be put back in bed or a multible alarm fire that anyone of us may risk our life going to,there is no hesitation, we perform to our best, just as our brothers in Boston do!

First, I have never had any relatives in any fire department (or police department), so I don't have any personal stake in this other than as a native Bostonian and as a taxpayer.

The people who have been throwing bricks on this story -- ESPECIALLY the ones who've been nasty -- should be ashamed of themselves and owe these firefighters, and all firefighters, an apology.

In this one case, they got it wrong. They saw nothing, they smelled nothing, and chose not to break into the building, which is not a residential building, on the off-chance that this time, it wasn't a false alarm. (I have absolutely no idea whether or not this building has a history of false alarms, and in the event the fire apparently started in ceiling duct work on the third floor.) They got it wrong, in this case; when a live human being called in with a report of smoke, they came back and put the fire out.

I can't speak as to the lock boxes, and I do not understand why the union is so adamant about tying substance abuse testing to contract negotiations. But one reality is that firefighters aren't in it for the money. Another is that I could not do what they are prepared to do (and I bet most posters couldn't either) and in the event of an emergency they show up and do their damnedest, regardless.

What gets my goat is that so many people argue as to whether the Red Sox or the Patriots, etc. should meet someone's salary demands. I know this:- If I smell smoke at 3 in the morning, it's not Manny Ramirez I want showing up at my house with a baseball bat. And the money that the Red Sox paid out for Manny or Pedro (much of which came out of our cable bills) could pay for an awful lot of firefighters and equipment.

W
Can we hjave

to the people with something negative to say,every building owner in that block could have lost their building if those guys did not do such a good job....

to the people with something negative to say,every building owner in that block could have lost their building if those guys did not do such a good job....

Too bad some yuppies didn't die

First, I have never had any relatives in any fire department (or police department), so I don't have any personal stake in this other than as a native Bostonian and as a taxpayer.

The people who have been throwing bricks on this story -- ESPECIALLY the ones who've been nasty -- should be ashamed of themselves and owe these firefighters, and all firefighters, an apology.

In this one case, they got it wrong. They saw nothing, they smelled nothing, and chose not to break into the building, which is not a residential building, on the off-chance that this time, it wasn't a false alarm. (I have absolutely no idea whether or not this building has a history of false alarms, and in the event the fire apparently started in ceiling duct work on the third floor.) They got it wrong, in this case; when a live human being called in with a report of smoke, they came back and put the fire out.

I can't speak as to the lock boxes, and I do not understand why the union is so adamant about tying substance abuse testing to contract negotiations. But one reality is that firefighters aren't in it for the money. Another is that I could not do what they are prepared to do (and I bet most posters couldn't either) and in the event of an emergency they show up and do their damnedest, regardless.

What gets my goat is that so many people argue as to whether the Red Sox or the Patriots, etc. should meet someone's salary demands. I know this:- If I smell smoke at 3 in the morning, it's not Manny Ramirez I want showing up at my house with a baseball bat. And the money that the Red Sox paid out for Manny or Pedro (much of which came out of our cable bills) could pay for an awful lot of firefighters and equipment.

W
Can we hjave

Some facts about today. The fire department responded to the building after receiving a call from a central station at 6:10 am. They spent 10 minutes investigating and could not make entry as both businesses were locked up. They left at 6:19am. At 6:30 an employee came to work to open up Atlantic Fish. Once inside, the employee smelled smoke. A call was then placed to the fire department.

When they came back no smoke or fire was visible. They did smell the smoke and found the fire in the third floor ceiling. They then proceeded to extinguish it.

As for the next door complaint, the area of the fire was up against the apartment building. The smoke was pushing heavy into the building. A couple of doors on the fire side of the apartment building had to be forced when no one answered them. The possibilty of a person overcome from the heavy smoke did exist.

Unless you were there one would have to guess that those leaving such nasty comments have other issues that cannot be addressed here.

I wonder what it is like to go through life so mad at the world.

So it appears there may be some overreaction to what the BFD did or didn't do in this case. Could it have gone better if they stayed initially, sure. But I undertsand why, given the number of false alarms, they didn't. But I also don't blame the masses for venting hostility to a fire department that has abused its power and responsibility with reckless abandon. People whose responsibility it is to save lives being found to be drunk and high on the job! Seemingly countless cases of fraudulent disability claims that cost money from hardworking, blue-collar taxpayers struggling to pay for gas or buy medicine for their sick kids. The honest and honorable firefighters should be the ones turning in their cheating colleagues, otherwise this reaction is what you get and deserve. And drug testing for people whose responsibility it is to save lives is not a bagaining-chip for union negotiations, it's a given. When you trivialize that responsibility, you rightfully lose the respect of the public. Honest firefighters are heroes, but right now we can't tell the honest from the scumbag dishonest firefighters. To the BFD, help us give you the respect you should deserve, by not making drug testing a bargaining chip, and by turning in the low-life false disability claimants who are ruining your reputations.

Can't we all just get along?

All of you Monday Morning quarterbacks should know what you are talking about before you comment. The Standard Operating Procedure for alarms in a secure building is if you arrive, and a thorough visual exterior investigation reveals no sign of fire or smoke, the companies return.

Of course the fatal fire that claimed 2 members, and the alleged drug use is concerning, but that does not make any of you outsiders experts in firefighting procedure. Bunch of morons, I'd like to see any of you make decisions on the fireground.

All of you Monday Morning quarterbacks should know what you are talking about before you comment. The Standard Operating Procedure for alarms in a secure building is if you arrive, and a thorough visual exterior investigation reveals no sign of fire or smoke, the companies return.

Of course the fatal fire that claimed 2 members, and the alleged drug use is concerning, but that does not make any of you outsiders experts in firefighting procedure. Bunch of morons, I'd like to see any of you make decisions on the fireground.

Firefighters saved my father's life during a heart attack, during an ice storm.

25 years ago - thank you, still. Every day, thank you.

People, can't we all just get along?

When we receive an alarm for a commercial building after hours, if we are unable to gain access WITHOUT FORCING ENTRY we do a visual inspection of the property for the exterior and leave. The fire was in the ceiling on the top floor in the rear. The only person I know that could have seen that from the street is Superman. To all you ignorant people, know the FACTS before you shoot off your comments about how stupid and lazy we are!

The first report of anything going on at this location was from an alarm monitoring company. The companies responded, checked out the building and elected not to break in. This is not unusual. There are dozens upon dozens of false alarms just like this each and every day.

You are right when you say alarms go off for a reason, but they don't always go off because of smoke or fire. They can go off for any number of reasons. Did you know that most will trip if there is a power outage to that building or if there is low water pressure in the area? I bet not. And so it's for these reasons as well as dozens of others, that the firefighters who first responded on the initial report of an alarm chose not to break into the building.

It has been noted that responsible building owners/managers will provide the fire department or the alarm company with a key for access to the building.

As soon as one of the employees had access to the building and realized there was smoke inside the fire department was quickly dispatched and worked feverishly and at great peril to contain this fire, prevent it from spreading to an attached high rise residential building, and extinguish the fire.

It would be nice if people would become informed on a topic instead of just shooting from the hip and throwing ridiculous suggestions out there. It just leads to other simple minded people from doing the same.

Scorndaddy you are turly an idoit. Stop being a computer social moron and put yourself on the line everyday to save someone else. It always seems that everyone is an expert on things they have no idea about. If they did bust down doors for every alarm you would be complaing about that to. I hope you find yourself in need of BFD assistance someday to truly experience how they go above and beyond for the citizens of Boston. "Is it shocking that these guys all mysteriously come up with career ending injuries that tax payers take the hit for? "- If you had to carry pieces of crap like yourself out of burning buildings you would run the risk of getting injured everyday, but the difference between them and you is that they do it for the people of Boston you know the tax payers and not themselves.

The BFD is a comedy. Eat, Drink and get _ _ _ _ faced.
I'm really surprised they didn't get into the stores to steal the merchandise and food...Oops- they're firefighters not politicians.
The politicians had just left shortly before the fire.. They wanted their fingerprints wiped out in the fire after they stole all the cash from the registers.
It is after all for the children...

WOW ! It was not too long ago that almost all of America looked at Firefighters as their Heros. On 9/11 343 incredible Men gave their lives in impossible circumstances. How soon do we forget waving at the passing trucks in every city not just New York because we truly believed that every one of the Men and Women on them would DIE for us if they had to. To date this year we have lost another 100 brave Men and women. How many people in your office died this year doing their Job ? Go about your lives and forget....... These brave Men and Women will still show up to save your Hypocritical ass when you screw up.

Well done Boston Fire Department. To those who are criticizing them I have a couple of things to say - are you a fire fighter, are you versed in fire science, are you one of the occupants who was evacuated, are you someone who actually witnessed the events, finally are you one of those citizens who called in to report smoke and the fire? If not, then you really have no legs to stand on. Yes, the BFD has had some issues. Sure. The union has some issues and I say this as a union member, myself. But, and this is very important, but they are paid to protect the citizens of Boston and they do a hell of a job doing it. So, stop with the incessant complaining over something that could have been potentially worse. These guys and ladies do a great job. Bar none.

Jess (#31): 'And as for the person living next door, shouldn't your excellent emergency alarm system have been activated by the flames, smoke or heat?'

Our alarm system wasn't activated because there weren't any flames, smoke or heat in our building!

I wasn't having a general moan about the Fire Dept, I don't have anything but admiration for men and women that risk their lives saving others. I have no axe to grind (pardon the pun). All I was saying was that a lot of damage was caused to our building, unnecessarily so in my opinion.

I don't think there was any need to knock any of our doors down with axes, especially given the fact that they had already gone through every apartment to ensure people were awake and evacuating (a simple chalk mark on each door to say "all clear" would have saved a lot of expense!). It really wasn't a case of just spoiling the soft furnishings as some here have suggested. There's probably $20,000 worth of damage just from breaking down doors when everyone was already standing outside. I just feel sorry for our landlord - I hope his insurance company doesn't wriggle!

Not everyone can be/has the inclination to be a firefighter. This does not automatically mean they are cowards.

The rest of the world deals with criticism and questioning of decisions at work every day, folks. I am not suggesting that anything went right or wrong in this case, but the implications by (what appear to be) firefighters on this thread that they are somehow above reproach and/or better than the rest of us are bogus.

How stupid can People be making stupid comments but when their butt is on fire they are crying for HELP!!These men and women risk their lives every single day going into buildings when everyone is running out,including the rats. SHAME on yous!!!! Its sooo easy to judge a whole department for a few mistakes but the truth of the matter is that these people RISK their lives to unselfishly save yours..Ignorants. These firefighters deal and see things everyday that can turn your stomach, and yes come home and cry about it. I pray to God everyday for mines to return home safe to his family. Yari

Cut they fire fighter some slack, just because a few guys are idiots doesnt make them all that way. You wont be sounding off if it is you that needs their help.

I am amazed and more so shocked at the lack huge of respect these losers have for the fire department. I mean some of the comments are outrageous...and expecially uncalled for. "Drunk or coked up???" Come on now! My brother in law is Boston Firefighter and is often out on ore than10 calls in a singe night resulting in little if any sleep. They spend days at a time away from their families to fight fire. Have a little mercy for God's sake. These men put their lives on the line for you and me everyday, how about a little respect? Unbelievable.

a responsible building owner should make a key available to the fire dept. if the property owner does not make a key available (or at least their cell phone # to contact in case of emergency), then the fire dept simply must break in. while i realize their are many false alarms, the whole reason for an alarm system is to prevent this type of thing from happening. this is a shame.

the fire department didn't even make sure everyone got out of the apartment building... tenants were still strolling out half an hour later not knowing what was happening. The fire department and other emergency crew may have got some of the tenants out but did not think to tell starbucks (neighboring building and shared wall) to close the store or to inform them what was happening. Where they going to wait until water started coming down from the ceilings.

all i know is I'll sure miss Crate&Barrel!!!

OK Fine. Most have NO Idea what we deal with on a day to day basis. Trust me these are good guys. You cannot please everyone. They did their job. I bet everything I own that that place was "trying" to come up to code. Ya right. risk your lives naysayers.