11/27/2012 - Around 0145 hours on the cold morning of Tuesday, November 27th, 2012 the Quincy Fire Department struck their box 2412 and responded to a reported building fire at 488 Quincy Avenue, at the corner of East Howard Street. Companies arrived to find a fire in a large two and a half story wood framed structure that appeared to be vacant. A working fire was requested. Shortly thereafter, a second alarm was ordered after companies found heavy fire on floor two, and had fire through the roof. Due to the heavy fire conditions, all companies were ordered out of the vacant building. A defensive attack was initiated with several hand lines in operation. Once the heavy fire, that was venting through the roof, subsided and they heavy fire was knocked down crews returned to make an aggressive attack inside the building, overhauling and hitting hot spots. As crews worked inside again, heavy fire was once again found in the attic area. A third alarm was ordered, and the companies were again ordered out of the building. Companies used hand lines and deck guns to knock the remainder of the fire down. The building was initially utilized as a residential property; however its last tenant used the building for commercial use. The property was vacant for several years and was reportedly frequently used by squatters in the area. The Quincy Fire Department utilized the State Fire Marshal's office in investigating this early morning blaze. It was determined to be an arson fire, that was started in an inside stairwell of the building. The Marshal's office wouldn't say that the fire was related to a string of arson fires that have recently plagued the South Shore of Massachusetts but they did comment that it does not fit the pattern of the other suspicious fires in the area. No injuries were reported at the scene.
