Question:
Do you have any idea how I can go about finding [online] when and why a house burned. We were out to eat last night just down the street from my daughter’s first apartment. They lived on the third floor [yes the attic] of a home in Somerville, MA on Chester Street. It was gutted, still stable it appeared from the outside, boarded up, and the pretty white walls outside charred black. Not sure where the fire started but if they had still been living there…. Very scary. It was there a year ago, might have been there last summer so not sure when the last occupied date was. Do you know how I can find that information? Duckie — Remove the duck to email me privately (.)>
Response:
> Do you have any idea how I can go about finding [online] > when and why a house burned.
Duckie, I don’t know of any department which places that type of data on-line. Many are fearful of violating any privacy law(s) by revealing data other than to victims and insurance companies representing victims, especially after an incident is no longer newsworthy. There is a thin line between First Amendment Freedom of the Press and privacy of individuals. But you might try http://ci.nameofcity.ma and see if the fire department is linked to the city’s site. Have you tried locating an on-line version of a newspaper in that area?
Response:
Can’t make your link work — I assume I substitute somerville for nameofcity. I did try to find an online newspaper — it linked to the Globe which wanted $2.50 for me to read an article I wasn’t sure was going to be right. Guess newspapers have to make money somewhere. LOL Ah well, it was worth a try. Thanks my friend. Duckie — Remove the duck to email me privately (.)> – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Do you have any idea how I can go about finding [online] > when and why a house burned. > Duckie, I don’t know of any department which places that > type of data on-line. Many are fearful of violating any > privacy law(s) by revealing data other than to victims > and insurance companies representing victims, especially > after an incident is no longer newsworthy. There is a > thin line between First Amendment Freedom of the Press > and privacy of individuals. > But you might try http://ci.nameofcity.ma and see if the > fire department is linked to the city’s site. > Have you tried locating an on-line version of a newspaper > in that area?
Response:
> Can’t make your link work — I assume I substitute somerville > for nameofcity.
Yep, that’s what I intended you to do. Sorry nothing came up (except "maybe" for $2.50). I’ll ask around in a couple of NG’s and see if anyong has information, if you can give me a time frame (like 1990 – 1990, or so). A street name would be great too.
Response:
Within the last year — probably spring of 2001 or maybe late spring or early summer — but for checking purposes use one year as a time frame 11-1-00 to 11-1-01. Chester Street in Somerville, Ma I would give you the exact address number but can’t remember it at the moment. The landlord had at least two buildings on this street. He was very nice and did his best to keep an old building livable. Duckie — Remove the duck to email me privately (.)> – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Can’t make your link work — I assume I substitute somerville > for nameofcity. > Yep, that’s what I intended you to do. Sorry nothing > came up (except "maybe" for $2.50). > I’ll ask around in a couple of NG’s and see if anyong > has information, if you can give me a time frame (like > 1990 – 1990, or so). A street name would be great too.
If you like this post and would like to receive updates from this blog, please subscribe our feed.