New Bedford Fires Not Related, Chief Kruger Says
New Bedford crews battled five major fires in seven days, and one of the fires is being investigated as arson. However, there is no evidence that the fires are related, according to Acting Fire Chief Scott Kruger. There have been several major fires lately in our city besides this one but there is no connection between them, Kruger was quoted in a Jan. 29 statement sent from the Office of State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey announcing a determination that the Jan. 27 fire at 124 Bonney had been intentionally set.
Kruger provided WBSM News with an update on the status of the five fire investigations:
Ten People Displaced By Ashley Boulevard Fire
New Bedford firefighters battled bitter cold and flames on Friday, dousing a house fire in a six-family tenement at 377 Ashley Boulevard.
According to a post on the Fire Department s Facebook page, the fire was reported just after 12 noon by local residents who spotted two District Chiefs in a line of traffic on Ashley Boulevard. Chiefs James Fortin and Brandon Silva entered the building to make sure everyone was out and reported the fire.
District Chief Fortin spotted fire on the third floor extending into the attic. Flames also threatened a nearby three-story residence on the south side of the building. A second alarm was then called. Fire crews brought the fire under control in about an hour.