Green Street Fire Burned 'Undetected,' Estimated $200K in Damage [VIDEO]

The absence of an alarm system or sprinkler system inside a Green Street office building led Melrose firefighters to only after it had been burning for a while, Capt. Ed Collina said yesterday.

Collina said that the basement suffered a "considerable amount of fire damage" due to the delay caused by the absence of any warning system.

"The fire had been burning undetected for some time," he said, adding that a cause is still undetermined and under investigation by himself and the state Fire Marshal's Office.

A rough estimate puts the structural damage costs around $200,000, Collina said. The fire never extended beyond the lower level into the street-level first floor, which was undergoing renovations.

The building was vacant at the time of the fire and there were no reports of any injuries.

On Saturday night, Melrose Police received a 911 call at 10:24 a.m. reporting smoke in the area of Green Street near Franklin Square.

Engine 2 from the Highlands Station and Ladder 1 both responded, with Ladder 1 eventually discovering the source of the smoke at 150 Green St. and Capt. Bob Kendall requesting a second alarm, which brought engine trucks from Malden, Saugus and Wakefield, and a Malden ladder company.

About 10-15 minutes later, an Everett ladder truck was requested because of the thick, five-layer roofing material on the building, Collina said.

"There was a delay in getting the roof open for ventilation purposes," he said.

Wakefield and Saugus firefighters went to the rear of the building, to the basement level, and found three doors, two of which were hot, Collina said. After a forced entry, they dsicovered a fire in the middle section of the basement and extinguished it.

Collina said companies were clear of the building by 12:55 a.m.