Ashmont fire still rages more than four hours after firefighters first responded

It was also a test, I think, to push forward on buildings like this one - first floor of concrete/steel with wood up to six floors. Also, that had two concrete cores, unlike this. To quote Boston Fire Commissioner Joseph Finn:

"It was a very difficult fire to fight," Finn said. "It's lightweight construction, which makes it very dangerous for us, which means the components are smaller. (The components) are 2x4, which is what you would see in your own residential home versus a major development like this."

"Steel is usually the first five or six stories," Finn said. "This is basically, under the building code, you can build one story of steel or concrete and you can raise up four stories of wooden construction. In the size and scope of this building, it's nothing but a tinderbox." Finn added that they were fortunate the fire started on top, instead of below and traveled like it did.

The building has a sprinkler system and full alarms and if it had been occupied all systems would have been in place. In most residential buildings the sprinklers are designed for life safety, not property preservation. A big apartment building right next to 128 in Peabody went up a few years ago because some ding dong kept flinging his Marlboro Reds into the mulch. That fire went from the first floor up and did not start from the top. Everyone got out owing to the fire codes and the life safety system.

If you notice that after 18 hours, the building is still standing and the fire was contained to the top floor and the roof. Combustion happens and if you hear an alarm, and the sprinklers come on, then is typically the time to leave. If you stay in a building for 18 hours while its on fire, maybe you deserve to be roasted. This building isn't some 1880's Manchester / Lowell / Lawrence tinder keg waiting to go up. It was built to code.

As far as the Nimbyism goes. A private developer came along a worked with the community to build more affordable units than required. The neighborhood said sure. Go ahead. No screaming and yelling about shadows, parking, "those people", etc.

It is a mark of goodness on the people who lived in and around Ashmont, for decades, who have endured the taunts of "Oh, you grew up in Dorchester?" and then they hear the silver being hid, that they would rally around this development and its older sibling across the street, The Carruth knowing the benefit that it would bring to the area.

Most of the development team live in and around the neighborhood. They could live at Black Rock or on Avon Hill, but they choose to work in their own area. It is a shame I didn't buy on Carruth Street or Lombard Street when I had the chance.

So shame on you Anon, you obviously have knee jerk responses to things you don't understand.