The temperature had just hit 91 degrees at Logan International Airport an hour before the fire broke out at 3:12 p.m. at 62 Lincoln St.
``The guys took a tremendous beating in there to try to save the surrounding homes,'' said Malden Deputy Fire Chief Jack Colangelo.
Earlier, flames from the roof had spread to the top floor of the house next door, and firefighters feared other buildings would be next. ``I'm afraid I might lose the neighborhood,'' Colangelo said.
But the fire was contained and knocked down. Nearly 100 firefighters from about 10 communities had descended on the quiet, tree-lined street around the corner from the local courthouse.
``It's an awful thing,'' said Eleanor O'Brien, who was talking to a neighbor outside the apartment she rents when they heard the windows next door exploding, one by one. Then they spotted smoke.
O'Brien rushed inside and called 911, then ran back outside and saw flames by the Dumpster in the driveway next door, and a wooden fence along the drive on fire. She ran inside and grabbed her phone book, car keys, a checkbook, some cash and her diamond ring. Her one regret was that she had forgotten her children's and grandchildren's photos. But she was luckier than most.
Although a firefighter had managed to rescue Screamer, one of the two cats belonging to Nickie Eaton and her three roommates, and Mista, their pet rat, by last night, the women still could not find the other cat, Coda, or their pet fish.
