Massachusetts

‘Catastrophic Failure': Firefighters Stunned After Ladder Collapses

A Boston Fire Department ladder collapsed on a 3-story home in Mattapan Wednesday night while firefighters were responding to a fire.

Crews responded to the fire at 9 Duke St. at about 7:40 p.m. where heavy smoke was showing from the third floor. A second alarm was then called due to the conditions.

After all of the building's residents were safely evacuated and the fire was knocked down, Tower Ladder 10 malfunctioned, according to officials.

"It's an older truck. It's 13 years old. There was no indication that this was going to happen for sure. These trucks are serviced regularly and go through preventative maintenance so it's going to take us a little time to figure out what exactly happened," Boston Fire Commissioner Joe Finn said.

Finn said one firefighter was on the ladder when it buckled and was suspended about 2 feet above the building. The firefighter was able to safely climb out of the ladder's bucket and onto the roof uninjured.

The bucket at the top of the ladder could be seen resting on the roof following the collapse.

"If that was not rested on that building it would've come right down," said Finn.

Crews worked for hours with Alley Cat Crane to remove the ladder from the building. By about 12:30 a.m. Thursday, authorities said the apparatus had been safely removed.

"Mission accomplished. Ladder has been brought safely to the ground," tweeted Boston Fire officials.

Officials said the malfunction of the ladder is being investigated.

"This truck is a spare. Their truck is out being repaired. Their tower is out being repaired," said Finn.

The incident happened hours after Boston Mayor Marty Walsh unveiled his proposed fiscal year 2019 budget which includes 6 new fire trucks for the city.

The American Red Cross was assisting the 15 residents who had been displaced from the fire, which remains under investigation.

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