Second Alarm Box 2-461 - January 26, 2026

Two alarms were ordered, Box 2-461, for thefire in the large, 5-story, brick & wood multiple dwelling at 1137 Massachusetts Avenue.

In a coordinated, aggressive attack, companies ensured evacuation of all residents while establishing water supplies, stretching attack lines, opening up concealed spaces to access the fire, overhauling, & ventilating. The fire had extended from via a light shaft & concealed spaces from floors 4 and 5 to the cockloft. In spite of the weather conditions, the fire was quickly contained and extinguished by firefighters - an excellent stop. Without their aggressive action, results could have far more devastating.

In addition to the snow cover on the ground, the temp was 15 degrees.

Time of the box alarm: 701 a.m.

Duty: Group 1 & Group 4

IC: DC R Walsh

The cause was under investigation.

A few non-life-threatening injuries were reported. Two residents were transported to a medical facility for evaluation. A few firefighters also received NLT injuries while working at the fire.

Several residents were temporarily displaced.

Six engines, 4 ladders, 3 squads, Rescue 1, and command and support units operated at the fire.

Two additional engines rotated as detail companies.

Arlington, Belmont, Somerville, & Waltham companies covered in Cambridge during the fire and responded to numerous other ongoing incidents.

Thank you to Cambridge Police, Professional EMS, Boston Sparks Rehab Unit A-10, and Inspectional Services for the assistance.

Special Thank You to the staff of Cambridge Emergency Communications, as always, for professionally managing the comms during the fire this morning, Jan 26th.

In addition to the fire, there were numerous unrelated incidents ongoing simultaneously.

View of the building with 3 aerial ladders (Ladders 1, 3, & 4) deployed to the roof at 1137 Mass Av.
Ladder 2 was deployed to the Remington Street side

Command Post set up in front of the fire building - 1137 Mass Av.

View of the firefighiting operations at 1137 Mass Av, looking toward Harvard Square

Ladder deployed to the roof of the building at 1137 Mass Av - two alarms Box 2-461

Ladder 2 with Engine 2 and Squad 3 operating on the Remington St side of the fire at 1137 Mass Av

Some of the firefighters who worked at the 2nd alarm fire are shown - after the fire had been extinguished

After the fire had been extingusihed, firefighters help to repack the supply hose and attack hose on Engine 5's pump