Tufts' Catholic Center has set up a relief fund for the victims of a devastating fire that swept through the three-story Boston Ave. apartment of two Medford families and five Tufts students last Tuesday. While the immediate concern is for the residents who lost nearly everything in the fire, members of the community are advising students to take precautionary measures to reduce the chance of such tragedies occurring in the future.
The Medford Fire Department determined that the fire was gas-induced, due to a problem with a faulty boiler in the basement of the apartment. The fire, which started at 4:30 p.m., spread quickly through the walls, chimney, and pipe chases blazing unchecked until 10:30 p.m. that evening.
Fortunately, none of the residents of the household were injured, but two fire fighters were sent to the hospital and treated for exhaustion, which is not unusual according to Medford Fire Chief Frank Giliberti. The three-alarm fire required assistance from the Somerville, Medford, Malden, and Arlington fire departments.
Tufts students Sean McDermott, Winder Holeman, Fernando Degwitz, Diana Uejbe, and their guest Estefania Elias lost 90 percent of their belongings in the disaster. In response, the Catholic Center is raising money for these students and the two families who inhabited the apartment building. Donations from yesterday and this Sunday's masses at Goddard Chapel will be sent to the relief fund.
"It should be noted that we are not just caring for our own students," said Father David O'Leary, director of the Catholic Center. "We are also trying to help the two Medford families who also lost everything. The Catholic Center is storing the few items that the victims were able to save, seven peoples lives reduced to five green trash bags."
In the aftermath of such a tragedy, the victims and members of the fire department are urging students to follow strict procedures to reduce the chance of future fires. Giliberti said that a poorly maintained heating system poses a substantial fire risk.
"Especially just before the cold season, residents should have someone come out and check the heat system," he said.
Many of the houses in the area are old, wooden structures, built before modern fire codes were written. The victims of the fire have encouraged students to thoroughly inspect apartment buildings before signing a lease and make sure the landlord is committed to maintaining the building.
"If you live off campus, make sure before you rent a place that you look into what condition the building is in," said Winder Holeman. "Our apartment was really nice, and I don't think we really took enough time to look at the rest of the building."
Though some of the residents knew that there was a problem with the boiler, they simply called the heating company, thinking nothing of it. In hindsight, McDermott wishes he had done more to get the boiler repaired.
"If you have a concern, be more forceful in addressing it," he said. "We knew the boiler was old. At that point I really should have pursued it." Holeman also urged students not to hesitate before calling the fire department.
"Don't assume that it's not a fire... because it very possibly could be. It's [the fire department's] job and they're not going to be irritated if you call them for a false alarm."
The frequency of on-campus false alarms this semester has posed other safety concerns at the University, since they desensitize students to the importance of a quick exit from the building. There was a slew of fire alarms earlier in the semester in Latin Way, and just last night there were two false alarms during a theatre production in the Balch Arena.
While McDermott explained that accidents such as this are difficult to prevent, it's important that students have insurance to cover their belongings.
"People don't realize what the replacement costs add up to. You go to replace everything and you're astounded," said McDermott. "What's important is that if people aren't insured under their parents, they should look into renter's insurance."
McDermott and Holeman had insurance, but the other three Tufts students did not. Holeman said residents should look at getting some sort of insurance plan, whether it be apartment insurance or renter's insurance.
Even though the fire occurred off-campus, fires have occurred in Tufts' residence halls as well. Phil Surks, a proctor in Houston Hall, witnessed a fire in the kitchen of the dorm on Homecoming weekend two years ago. That fire was started accidentally on a kitchen stove by a student.
Surks noted that the evacuation of Houston was far from perfect and said he would like to see more in the way of preparing students for an actual emergency at the beginning of the year.
"Some people didn't leave the building until they smelled smoke. And even when they did get out they stood on the stoop and other people couldn't get out," he said. "I think the fire marshals need to do more about what to do in an emergency."
While Tuesday's incident exemplified the potentially devastating impact of fires, Surks said that students do not take fire prevention seriously and often violate policy by hanging tapestries over lights and keeping candles, halogen lamps, and incense in their rooms.
"Life safety is a part of habitats, and they don't realize how quickly things can catch fire," he said. "It's not like it doesn't happen here. There was a fire in Lewis a few years ago and basically a whole room caught on fire."
For students who would like to help the victims of the fire, monetary donations can be made through the Tufts Community Appeal directed to the Catholic Center at 58 Winthrop St.
