Massive fire at Chelsea mill started by "human activity," marshal says
CHELSEA - A fire that tore through an empty mill in Chelsea, Massachusetts last month started with "some form of human activity," state fire officials said Wednesday.
The fire started early in the morning on Nov. 18 at the mill on Forbes Street near the Chelsea Creek. The massive fire drew a response from about two dozen different fire departments. Four nearby schools were also closed and the fire prompted delays on the Commuter Rail. No one was hurt.
Abandoned mill was "on radar" of fire department
State fire officials said the building has not had electricity for years. Over the years, it had been a spot where young people, those experiencing homelessness and others would hang out. The property was listed for sale for $30 million and had been approved for development before the fire.
"This site's been on our radar for awhile. We've had some smaller fires down here," Chelsea Fire Chief John Quatieri told WBZ-TV at the time of the fire. "It's been a vacant property for a long time. We inspect it every week just because we're afraid something like this might happen."
Reward being offered in Chelsea fire
Investigators still want to know what happened to spark the fire, and who is responsible.
"The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, but the evidence so far suggests that one or more people were present when the fire broke out," said State Fire Marshal Jon Davine. "We're extremely fortunate that no one was hurt – or worse – by the fire or structural collapse."
A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for any information on the cause of the fire. Any tips can be sent to the Arson Watch Reward Program at 1-800-682-9229. Tips can be shared anonymously.
