Salem Trailer Explosion Leaves Landscaper With Severe Burns

A Lynn man suffered second and third-degree burns to his arms, face and legs when a landscaping trailer burst into flames in Salem Monday morning.

A Lynn man remains hospitalized with severe burns to his face, hands and legs after the landscaping trailer he was offloading in Salem Monday morning burst into flames. The powerful explosion on Arbella Street, which reportedly shook several nearby homes, was triggered by an overturned gas can that spilled out into the metal trailer while the landscaping crew was travelling down Lafayette Street, according to local fire officials. When the first reports of the explosion came in shortly before 9 a.m., Deputy Fire Chief Brian Harrington said local firefighters were still working to clean up the fuel spill on Lafayette. By the time they arrived on Arbella, the M. Carpenter Landscaping trailer was completely engulfed in flames and was …

• Photos (7)
• Videos (1)

Beyond Broomsticks

A Requiem for St. Joseph Church

As we prepare to say final farewells to Saint Joseph Church it seems a fitting time to look back at the church and the people who built it.

The story of St Joseph Church is a story of a unique people who helped build Salem’s industries and went on to influence all aspects of the city. As industrialization took hold in Salem in the mid 1800s there was a need for laborers able to handle the increasingly complicated machinery in the mills and factories. This growing need fueled the arrival of  large number of French Canadians who moved from severe economic conditions in the largely agrarian Quebec. The Quebec Province at this time was under much stress with a growing population with limited opportunities. Canada’s population had grown by 400% between 1784 and 1844. It was nearly impossible to pursue farming due to the non-availability of suitable land. Farmland between 1784 and …

•  6 Comments
• Photos (26)

SFD Battles 2-Alarm Fire Early Wednesday

The fire broke out around 2 a.m. Wednesday.

Ten residents are displaced after a fire early Wednesday. The Salem Fire Department responded to 270 Washington Street at 2 a.m. after a 911 call came in from a tenant reporting a fire. Salem Fire immediately dispatched Engine 1, Engine 5 and Ladder 1 when they arrived, they reported fire showing from between two buildings. Within two minutes, SFD declared a working fire, bringing additional Salem engines to the scene and requesting the help of Beverly, Peabody and Lynn  to the city for station coverage. Just minutes later the fire went to a 2-alarm fire and Beverly came to the scene and sending Marblehead to the city for station coverage. According to SFD, the outside fire, which seemed to have originated near a motor scooter against the …

•  6 Comments
• Photos (8)
• Videos (4)

VIDEO: Salem Firefighters Battle Northey Street Blaze

Peabody, Lynn and Marblehead personnel also responded to the scene.

The Salem Fire Department responded to a two-alarm fire that broke out in a rear porch of 33 Northey St. just after 2:30 p.m. Thursday. The home was unoccupied at the time of the fire, Salem Police said. Scanner reports indicated the fire started in the rear of the building in a porch area before extending to the attic in the 2.5 story wood-framed structure. After the fire spread to the attic, crews cut a hole in the roof to ventilate the building. Reports indicate the fire was knocked down by approximately 3 p.m. Peabody, Marblehead and Lynn provided mutual aid. Cataldo, Atlantic Ambulance and Rehab 5 were also on scene. Beverly and Danvers provided station coverage. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Robert Gates and Katie …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (11)
• Videos (1)

Salem Fire Prevents Car Blaze From Extending into Foster Street Home

The fire was most likely caused by a mechanical failure, according to Dep. Fire Chief James Lynch.

The Salem Fire Department prevented a car fire behind a Foster Street address from extending into a home on Thursday afternoon. Just after 2 p.m. the Salem Fire Department responded to the area of Foster and North streets on a report of a structure fire, according to scanner reports. A woman was transported from the scene to Salem Hospital, SFD said. One person on scene said it looked like a structure fire from the North Street Overpass, but when they arrived, the Salem Fire Department found a white Pontiac Grand Prix behind 5 Foster Street on fire. The fire was knocked down. Dep.Fire Chief James Lynch said the the fire was most likely mechanical in nature. "The owner said she had been driving earlier," Lynch said. "It was parked when it …

• Photos (5)
• Videos (1)

YOUTUBE: Remembering the Armory and Masonic Temple Fires

Here's a look at the fires on their anniversary from a local YouTube user.

Today is the anniversary of the Armory and Masonic Temple fires in 1982. The Salem News published a history of the incident. YouTube User zingerplatz of Zinger Platz Pictures has footage of both of these fires on YouTube, which we have linked to here.

•  1 Comment
• Videos (2)

Jefferson Avenue Fire Under Investigation, All Animals Safe

A Salem Police officer was transported to the hospital due to smoke inhalation and released.

The two-alarm fire that tore through 63 Jefferson Ave. early Monday is still under investigation, according to fire officials. All dogs and people at Playful Paws Doggie Daycare and Allied Collision got out of the building safely, Deputy Chief Gerry Giunta said. The deputy also said a Salem police officer who responded was taken to the hospital with smoke inhalation but has since been released. Fire and water damage to the building was described as "pretty extensive" by fire officials. At 7:46 a.m. the Salem Fire Department received the call. Giunta, who arrived less than a minute after the initial call, said "smoke was blowing out the two front windows on the second floor." The Rapid Intervention Team was alerted. The main issue in a …

• Photos (3)

PHOTOS: Chuck Holloran's Scrapbook

Last week, Chuck Holloran retired from the Salem Fire Department after 27 years of service. Here are a collection of firefighting photos he shared with contributor William Legault.

• Photos (10)