$600k E. Arlington Fire Linked To Careless Disposal Of Marijuana

Arlington MA

17 March, 2022

4:37 PM

Description

Your Arlington Last Updated: 17 March 2022 Written by Alisha Gandhi, Bob Sprague Careless disposal of marijuana smoking materials caused the Feb. 20 fire at the two-family home in East Arlington, a town report says. The 2 1/2-story home at 10 White St. sustained $600,000 damage, according to a report submitted by Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Melly. The blaze left at least seven people homeless at the time – the upstairs family of Marco Fanzoni; his wife, Patricia Kabitzke (who was traveling in Costa Rica at the time of the fire); and two daughters, as well as three residents downstairs, Zach Bloom, Lauren Jaeger and Julian Feshbach. The fire was reported at 7:16 p.m. First responders arrived four minutes later, and the last unit was cleared at 10:03, nearly three hours later. Unit E1, including Lt. Kevin Burns and firefighters Devin Murray and Brandon Stratton, were first on the scene, the report says. E1 identified the location of the fire as the back porch thanks to the sound from the two fire alarms that went off. As the night went on, units C1, C2, E2, E3, L1 and R1 arrived on the scene. Still, both levels of the home underwent significant damage. The fire originated from the first floor of the back porch. The Fire Department report said this was the site where Feshbach, had been smoking about 20 to 30 minutes before he reported the fire. Feshbach attempted to put the cigarette out on a piece of cardboard or plastic, the report said. But a spark remained, and this led to the fire that blazed through the White Street home that February night. The Arlington Fire Department report estimates the dollar loss at $600,000, $500,000 to the home and $100,000 to the indoor contents. Home's assessed value Town records show 10 White St. had an assessed value of $1,103,100 in fiscal 2022, the latest number. The home is owned by David Serabian of Oakland Avenue, Arlington. The department's official report includes the results of an arson investigation assisted by Lt. Brian Gallagher. Fought amid high wind and a temperature of 22 degrees, the fire began on a rear side porch, the report says. Its point of origin was at ground level where the foundation meets the lower porch, a lattice-covered storage area under the porches. A visual "V" pattern had burned through lattice extending upward to vinyl siding and vinyl-covered post and railings, the report says. Investigator eliminated electrical or cooking/grilling as the cause. The report says Lt. Gallagher interviewed Feshbach, floor 1, "who stated he was smoking a Mariguana cig. approx. 20-30 min. prior to fire. He stated he tried putting it out on a piece of cardboard or plastic then went back inside." Deputy John Kelly said Feshbach told him he had called 911 and thought the fire started by a spark. This part of the report concludes: "Fire was accidental. Careless disposal of smoking materials." Fund-raising Meanwhile, fund-raising has continued for those displaced: The GoFundMe campaign for the upstairs family seeks $40,000 >> (total was $57,054 by March 17) A GoFundMe campaign for the downstairs family seeks $10,000 >> (total was $8,706 by March 17) YourArlington.com has provided news and opinion about Arlington, Mass., since 2006. Publisher Bob Sprague is a former editor at The Boston Globe, Boston Herald and Arlington Advocate. Read more at https://www.yourarlington.com/about.