 The small block of retail stores at 469-475 Summer St., across from Summer Street Field, near the Veterans Memorial Sports Center, sustained an inside fire. The block houses the Arlington Café, an office for Crescent Plumbing and a nail salon called The Perfect Touch. As of Thursday night, a glass repairman could be seen working on the window of Arlington Café, which serves pizza among a variety of food.
The Arlington Fire Department responded to the fire quickly and professionally. Upon receiving the report of the fire, dispatchers sent a first alarm response, consisting of two engines, a ladder truck, an ambulance, and Deputy Chief Bob Casey, the shift commander, who served as incident commander.
According to Chief of Department Robert Jefferson, the Fire Department's minimum staffing policy requires that mutual aid be requested to cover Arlington stations during any working fire. On Friday, Somerville Fire sent apparatus to cover Central Fire Station on Broadway. They were released soon after arriving.
Engine 2 quickly extinguished the fire, which occured within the walls. After the fire was knocked down, the Board of Health was called to the scene, along with fire investigators. However, they both appeared to have left within 2½ hours. No public safety personnel remained as of 9:30 p.m.
Arlington Police also responded to assist with traffic management. The fire necessitated the closure of that part of Summer Street, and the area around the Forest Street bridge, during rush hour.
Radio transmissions heard on a scanner indicate that traffic was backed up to Lowell Street before roads were reopened. Surrounding streets were reopened one lane at a time as fire crews left and navigated the ladder truck around the traffic backups.
No injuries were caused by the fire. An assessment of the damage has not been released.
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