Canal Street parking garage fire collapses part of structure, injuring firefighters

The Somerville Fire Department was notified of a fire in a parking garage at 449 Canal Street at 2:20 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021.

Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the garage and a fire on the fourth floor on the Great River Road side of the structure. The fire destroyed four vehicles and damaged a fifth. Heat from the burning vehicles also resulted in a portion of concrete collapsing.

Three firefighters were injured by the falling section of concrete. Two other firefighters suffered minor injuries.

The fire also spread to a void space between the garage and the adjacent Montaje Apartments igniting a rubber membrane between the two structures. This fire spread up to the roof of the garage and dropped burning debris down to the first floor.

A Second Alarm was sounded bringing Everett and Cambridge to assist Somerville fire crews.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.