WALTHAM, MA - On the morning of December 11th, Waltham Fire received a call for a car fire in the parking garage at 52 Second Avenue, Mass. General West Green Building. Engines 2 and 4, Rescue 1, Tower 1 and Medic 1 were dispatched.

Engine 7 signed off with nothing showing. On further investigation, it was determined the car fire was in the sub level of the garage. Engine 7 hooked up to the stand pipe and ran a line across Second Avenue. In the meantime, people were evacuating the building, but smoke began to permeate the building, requiring everyone out of the building which included those requiring surgery and/or other medical issues. A second-alarm was transmitted.

Multiple ambulances were dispatched to take the most serious patients to area hospitals. Firefighters found smoke on many floors which required a third-alarm for search purposes. The third-alarm brought companies from Lexington, Belmont, Cambridge, Newton and Weston. One person broke a leg and several people were treated for smoke inhalation.