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Brookline mansion goes up in flames

By adamg on Thu, 12/26/2024 - 11:58am

Brookline, Boston, Cambridge and Newton firefighters responded to 90 Sargent Rd. in Brookline, just north of Jamaica Pond, around 10:40 a.m. for what turned into a three-alarm fire in a 13,000-square foot house.

Firefighters were ordered out of part of the house just before part of the roof and one of its chimneys collapsed shortly before 11:50 a.m. - when heavy fire was still reported in the attic.

The Brookline Fire Department reports all five residents got out safely and that there were no injuries.

The department reports the cause is under investigation, but that "at this time it does not appear to be suspicious."

Neighborhoods: 
Brookline


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Comments

By runforit on Thu, 12/26/2024 - 1:09pm.

Its always sad to hear when anyone's house goes up in flames and people are displaced.

But what the heck does someone do in a 13000 sq foot house... and why so big? Even a family of 4 would have a hard time making use of such space. Maybe stay in a different room each week? That's enough space for 26 studio apartments...

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By emac on Thu, 12/26/2024 - 1:12pm.

Next we can speculate about the insurance payout.

btw what’s with all the fires lately.

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By SwirlyGrrl on Thu, 12/26/2024 - 1:25pm.

Late summer and through the fall we had a drought with a lot of dry, windy conditions. Dry stuff ignites and combusts faster.

Recent arctic vortex weather means that people were putting a lot of stress on heating systems, possibly straining their electrical systems with space heaters.

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By Frelmont on Thu, 12/26/2024 - 2:18pm.

I’m hearing this as sarcasm for Earth First. I could be wrong.

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By SwirlyGrrl on Thu, 12/26/2024 - 10:18pm.

Just the facts.

We had a drought and that dries stuff out.

First cold snap is when a lot of people make bad decisions with space heater placement or find out their electrical system can't take the load and/or discover their heating system isn't going to make it this year.

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By Frelmont on Fri, 12/27/2024 - 10:58am.

Just being cheeky. (Riffing off others’ comments on causes: insurance fire, and calling for replacing a mansion with high-occupancy hence my cheek.)

Your assessment is reasonable: dry, excessively cold. And, of course it was occupied (I assume by rightful persons,) so less likely insurance scam (but who knows), and not likely eco-terrorism (again, being cheeky). Though the fact it’s a mansion makes me dubious about space-heaters and poor upkeep of heating system, but maybe old wiring…?, some other risky behavior?

By KTK on Thu, 12/26/2024 - 2:21pm.

Sargent Road is private and guarded at both ends, no way they allow apartment dwelling rabble to move in.

By BB from Dot on Thu, 12/26/2024 - 2:26pm.

It may not be as common as it was, but there are families with more than four people, especially if there are multiple generations living together.

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By Lee on Thu, 12/26/2024 - 3:09pm.

And not all families are the traditional genetically related type family.

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By Friartuck on Thu, 12/26/2024 - 3:56pm.

Don't be a size queen, it's not a good look for you.

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By Michael McInnis on Fri, 12/27/2024 - 6:13am.

I work in high-end carpentry. Worked on two houses across the street from this place. Worked on a house in Weston that was 24,000 sq feet. Had an indoor koi pond, a walk in safe, an indoor pool, dog-washing room, all for two people with grown kids. I've worked on so many of these "mansions" that I've come to one conclusion: money affords these people the ability to indulge their neuroses. Why such a big house? Because they can. Do they need such a large house? Of course not.

By eddie van halen on Fri, 12/27/2024 - 4:31pm.

Live and Let Live?

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By CopleyScott17 on Thu, 12/26/2024 - 2:56pm.

Imagine living somewhere that JP's Pondside neighborhood would be the wrong side of the tracks.

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By MrZip on Thu, 12/26/2024 - 3:38pm.

They are different from you and me.

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By Whit on Thu, 12/26/2024 - 4:56pm.

Beautiful house. I feel for them. It must be just heartbreaking

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By anon on Thu, 12/26/2024 - 7:36pm.

They'll be fine - grab the private jet, stay at one of their Cape/Nantucket houses or inns. Yes, really.

By eddie van halen on Fri, 12/27/2024 - 4:32pm.

is what makes the world go 'round.

By Kathode on Thu, 12/26/2024 - 9:23pm.

is a private community. Sargent Estates -- they're private roads although I think you can drive and walk there.

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By anon on Fri, 12/27/2024 - 12:32pm.

There are signs saying "Private" and "Surveillance cameras in use", and they made it look like a driveway rather than a street. But there's no gate, and nothing saying "No Trespassing". https://maps.app.goo.gl/kZz9rsfh3C9DZoSH7

Does that mean anyone can go take a look without getting in trouble?

Apparently it did scare off the Googlemobile, so we can't see it on Street View.

There are apparently some conservation land parcels in the middle, including the Sargent Beechwood Nature Walk and Cottage Street Preserve, but they don't make it easy to figure out where they are or how to get there.

By anon on Fri, 12/27/2024 - 12:40pm.

Addendum: here's the grand, clearly-marked entrance to the Cottage Street Preserve: https://maps.app.goo.gl/3xCMqakTco1UjERb7

Here's a map of the trail to Sargent's Pond: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-july-20-2022-c8461bf

By Michael Kerpan on Fri, 12/27/2024 - 4:47pm.

...there's no Google street view....

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By anon on Sat, 12/28/2024 - 12:41am.

Supposedly there’s a land trust which provides public access to Sargent’s Pond. But they don’t make it easy to find the entrance.

By DST on Thu, 12/26/2024 - 3:12pm.

Ok, I had to Google a 13000sq mansion and was highly disappointed it’s actually only(ha) 5,700sq unless there is a system of undisclosed nuclear bunkers in there.

By anon on Thu, 12/26/2024 - 4:55pm.

Did the firefighters get a permission to use their private road?