Massive Squirrels' Nest Blamed In Fire - Boston Fire Department

Massachusetts - Squirrels are to blame for a two-alarm fire that injured two jakes and left five people homeless in Charlestown, fire officials said. The blaze at 46 Washington St. started about 11:40 a.m. when a massive squirrels' nest tucked into duct work ignited, said Boston Fire Department spokesman Steven MacDonald.

He said the fuzzy nut harvesters had built the nest in a vent above a bathroom heat lamp.

"Those lamps throw out a tremendous amount of heat, and you had all the material there from the nest," he said. The investigator said that based on the sheer size of the nest, it had been there for some time.

He said two firefighters were treated and released, one for a shoulder injury and one for a back injury. The blaze caused $500,000 worth of damage to the three-story townhouse and another $50,000 to an adjoining townhouse, MacDonald said.

Written by Boston Herald