Shortly after 10:30 PM on February 13th 2004, the Boston Fire Department Received a straight pull on Box 6173. Numerous phone calls also flooded the Fire Alarm office for a building fire at 292 Meridian Street, half a block from Box 6173.
First Due Companies reported heavy smoke showing. The fire was extending from the first floor, up to the second and third floors, and a second alarm was struck. Companies began an aggressive interior attack, but conditions started to rapidly grow worse. A third alarm was ordered, which brought additional companies to the scene.
Conditions on the third floor became unbearable, and firefighters were forced to bail out. While exiting, one firefighter slipped on the rungs of a ground ladder, and fell 15 feet. A second firefighter was forced to crawl down a ground ladder head first, after he was pushed out of the room by heavy fire conditions.
Both firefighters were transported to Massachusetts General Hospital, treated and released. The fire was ruled as suspicious.
