Smoke poured out of a five-story parking garage on Guest Street in Brighton on Sunday evening as a two-alarm fire torched several cars but, remarkably, left everyone unharmed.
Boston firefighters arrived around 6 p.m. to find heavy smoke and flames pouring from the second level of the structure. Crews quickly zeroed in on the burning vehicles, ultimately containing the fire to three cars and preventing it from jumping to other vehicles or the upper stories of the garage.
What crews reported
According to Boston 25 News, firefighters struck a second alarm when they pulled up and saw thick smoke and visible flames coming from the garage’s second level. The station shared viewer video that captured several vehicles fully involved in fire as crews moved in.
Firefighters were able to knock down the flames without any reported injuries to residents or responders, Boston 25 reported. The Boston Fire Department has opened an investigation into what sparked the blaze.
Where it happened
WCVB places the scene on Guest Street in the Boston Landing area of Brighton, in a five-story garage near the New Balance complex. The outlet notes that the three damaged vehicles were parked on the second floor and that crews focused on keeping the flames from spreading to other levels.
The response drew multiple engines and ladder trucks, making the incident hard to miss for anyone in the neighborhood.
Why garage fires can be dangerous
Vehicle fires inside enclosed garages can escalate quickly, with high heat and thick smoke that make firefighting tougher and increase the risk of structural damage if the flames jump from car to car.
A recent NFPA Research Foundation report on modern vehicle hazards in parking structures found that most U.S. parking-garage fires still affect only a single vehicle. However, tightly packed cars and a lack of sprinklers can let a fire grow much faster, while sprinkler systems, where installed, often keep it in check. The report also points out that changes in vehicle construction and batteries mean codes and fire protections need ongoing review. The NFPA Research Foundation recommends strong fire protection systems and clear evacuation procedures for mixed-use buildings that include parking.
Investigation and next steps
Officials say the cause of Sunday’s fire remains under investigation and have asked anyone with information to contact fire investigators.
Boston 25 News reported that there were no injuries and shared additional viewer footage of the burning vehicles. As of this writing, the Boston Fire Department has not released any determination on how the blaze began.
