Local
Brick fall prompts evacuation of nine apartments on Chelsea’s Orange Street
Residents fled a 1900 building at 38 and 40 Orange St. Sunday night after bricks fell from its facade. No injuries were reported as city inspectors and firefighters assessed whether the structure was safe.
Nine apartments at a building on Orange Street in Chelsea were evacuated Sunday night after bricks fell from the facade and scattered onto the street, officials said. No one was injured.
Fire crews responded around 8:30 p.m. to 38 and 40 Orange St. Residents said they were told to leave quickly and take only essential belongings. Jenny Morales said the falling bricks made a noise so loud she initially thought a truck had struck the building.
Authorities shut off gas and electricity, and the street was temporarily closed. An MBTA bus was brought in to help residents get out of the rain.
Chelsea’s Inspectional Services Department is working with the Fire Department to determine whether the building is structurally sound. Deputy Fire Chief Robert Denning said firefighters used a recently acquired drone to inspect the roof and all four sides of the structure.
City records show the building was built in 1900. Neighbor Tracey Murray said people are frequently coming and going, and that someone could have been seriously hurt if they had been beneath the falling bricks.