Fire officials suspect arson in blaze

Jennifer Roy

Daily News Tribune

WALTHAM - The one-alarm fire that damaged a vacant building on the Metropolitan State Hospital property on Trapelo Road yesterday was intentionally set, fire officials said.

The blaze started in the basement and was hard to fight because the windows were boarded up. Firefighters also had trouble ventilating the building, which has not been used in many years, for the same reason, Deputy Fire Chief Steve Turner said.

He said the building's back door was open when firefighters arrived. The building has no electric service, leading investigators to suspect arson.

"Someone had to start it," Turner said. "It didn't start on its own."

He said the fire was reported about 10:40 a.m., and both Waltham and Lexington firefighters showed up because it was unclear which town the building is in.

He said heavy smoke was showing on the second and third floors of the five-story building, but firefighters soon learned the blaze was in the basement, used to store hospital records.

"There was a lot of paper," Turner said.

The fire is under investigation by the Waltham Fire Department and the State Fire Marshal's Office.

This article was written by Jennifer Roy and published by Daily News Tribune on Thursday, May 18th 2006 and NOT owned by nor affiliated with opacity.us, but are recorded here solely for educational use.

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