Apparently everyone has been safely evacuated, but my son’s father just told me there’s a 7(?!!)-alarm fire at one of the student residences for Northeastern (104 Hemenway). Again, it seems that there are no injuries, but I thought some parents here might want to know, if they don’t already.
One thing that scares me about my son’s dorm at Berklee is that it’s very old and when I saw it (especially his room, which has a unique, odd circular window) is the possibility of fire. I need to talk to him about whether there is some kind of fire safety protocol there.
You are right to be concerned. Many rentals in the Boston/Cambridge area are fire traps and it drove me crazy when I was shopping for apartments for my son and his girlfriend last year. I suspect if your child is staying in one of the dorms that the college has a pretty strict fire protocol. There have been some tragic fires that have impacted students living off campus in Boston and every mayor claims he will crack down on these slumlords who rent to students. But alas nothing seems to change. I suggest doing due diligence where ever your child ends up living.
The fire was at 104-108 Hemenway Street. The building is neither owned nor leased by Northeastern. Reports indicate that residents are mostly students at Northeastern, Berklee and Emerson.
Not a Northeastern property. Off campus housing for students from various colleges (NEU, Berkelee, Emerson). Thankfully no serious injuries, several people taken to hospitals for smoke inhalation. Nor’easter conditions made things worse. Some news reports stating fire may have started because of nearby welding work. Glad the outcome not worse due to horrible weather!!
About 20 years ago Northeastern attempted to buy many of the brownstones on Hemenway and St. Stephen Streets. This was before real estate prices in Boston entered the ionosphere. They planned to fully renovate them as campus housing. The city blocked the sales as it would take the properties off the tax roles. Instead they fell into the hands of two slumlords.
@StacJip , I have heard that about off-campus housing in Boston too. My son snd his current dorm roommate are talking about renting together next year, and that will be a big factor (I’m terrified of fires!). Tomorrow I’m going to ask him if they have had fire drills (do people do that any more?!) for his dorm. The place is a bizarre labyrinth of old hallways and narrow stairways. Pretty building, awesome location, but…
@TomSrOfBoston , when I posted, that was all the info I could see. I was out to dinner afterwards, so couldn’t update with the additional info you’ve provided (and the fact that some people were hospitalized for smoke inhalation). In any case, the building is apparently a total loss–thank God it wasn’t much worse, given what a huge fire it was. I wonder how it started.
Perhaps the incident will at least spur some action on the issue.
Glad to hear all are safe. This is all too scary.
I doubt there will be any action on this issue after this fire. I mean there have been actual deaths of students and nothing has changed. I think the important thing is to educate your child. Make sure that your child’s apartment has working smoke detectors and if it is a building with more than X units (sorry I don’t remember the amount) it should have a working sprinkler system. They can always invite a Boston fireman in to inspect the property as well. Sadly the slumlords get away with this because most of their renters are not long term renters but just renting for a year or two and then they move on. There is little legal incentive for a student to fight with a landlord who may be giving them what they think is a good rental price.
Died, @StacJip ?!! It’s unimaginable. I don’t understand how people can be so careless about others’ lived for the sake of money. I live in a town that was infamous inthe '80’s for hired (by developers) arsonists who burned down occupied buildings–often in the middle of the night when people were sleeping. Many, including children, died. (There’s a documentary about it called “Delivered Vacant”–haunting title.) But your suggestions are duly noted for apartment-hunting next year.
Berklee did send out a thoughtful note about affected Berklee students (apparently Berklee dorms close to the fire were also affected, and students have been displaced until it’s known if those buildings are stable). It sounds as if they are doing a lot to help. On top of all that, it’s mid-terms week!
And yesterday I talked to my son about how to respond if his dorm, God forbid, is on fire. I even suggested they keep an ax in the room to make sure that they can get out of that damned porthole of a window!
Berklee’s response:
https://www.berklee.edu/public-safety/public-safety-announcements-and-closing-information
Northeastern’s response:
https://news.northeastern.edu/2018/10/29/northeastern-responds-to-needs-of-students-displaced-by-fire/
Asmother, I don’t remember all incidents and they happened over the past couple of decades (I grew up in the Boston metropolitan area, went to college here and moved back here 20 years ago). I do remember one student who died, died because a balcony or porch like structure that had not been maintained collapsed. And I do know there must have been a fire at some point because I when our son was living here I was hyper nervous about his living situation being fire safe. That all being said we were in London when Grenfell happened and that alone was enough to make me very aware of the dangers of fires in buildings. I also know a firefighter in a nearby town and we have talked about this issue at length. One thing you might want to make sure your son has is a rope ladder (they sell them on Amazon) to use to put out the window so they can climb down. We even were told to have one for our house as our daughter’s room was in the third floor attic.
best to go for a ground floor or 2nd floor max! Moving out to rented apartment where kids have to cook and fend for themselves increase the risks too. At least college dorms don’t allow open fires, cooking and candles etc.
Oh, this thread is making me nervous! 
@StacJip , I’ve looked at those ladders for my own place, but I don’t think they’d work with a circular window. At least the room is at the front and center of the building, and only on the second floor (just over the entrance), so it should be easy to get someone’s attention. I just pray we never have to find out.
I will be going over prospective apartments next year with a fine-tooth comb! @HereWeGoAgain2018 , one of the few things my son likes too cook for himself is broiled steak…yikes!
Grenfell was unimaginably horrific. I csn’t believe you were in London then, @StacJip . It must have been quite traumatic.