Somerville firefighters responded to a building fire at 257 Highland Ave. at 6:39 a.m. on Tuesday, July 22. The fire involved a third-floor rear porch and spread to the roof above. The building contains multiple apartments on the second and third floors and commercial space on the first floor. All occupants were able to safely exit the building, and one occupant helped to contain the fire using a garden hose prior to SFD’s arrival. One firefighter suffered a minor knee injury.
The cause of the fire was determined to be the improper disposal of smoking material. Community members are reminded to never dispose of smoking material in combustible containers such as plastic pots or planters, and to never put smoking material out in potting soil. Use a metal container full of sand to safely dispose of smoking materials outdoors.
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Pictured are Somerville firefighters working on the roof at 257 Highland Ave. Tuesday morning. Firefighters had to open the roof over a rear porch to complete extinguishment of the fire.