On Wednesday night, September 15, 2021, firefighters combatted the flames and in a short time managed to control and extinguish the fire that broke out in the narthex of the Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary in Somerville, as reported by anamniseis.net.
Although investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing, local media, including Boston Channel 7, believe that the fire broke out due to the lit candles.
The church and the adjacent school complex were covered by thick smoke.
“The fire was confined to the vestibule however, we have a very, very heavy smoke condition throughout the school– there’s an attached school building in the church,” Fire Chief Charles Breen said.
Charles Breen pointed out that the fire safety system and smoke and carbon dioxide detectors worked and the worst was avoided.
Extensive damage was caused not only by the fire itself but also by the large amounts of water used by firefighters to bring it under control and eventually extinguish the fire.