MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA — Firefighters, alerted to a car fire on Route 128 on Friday night, were able to extinguish the blaze within minutes.
No injuries were reported in the fire, which took place on the southbound lanes of Route 128 near the Manchester/Essex/Gloucester lines, Manchester-by-the-Sea Fire Chief James “Jake” McNeilly said.
The BMW sedan was fully involved when firefighters arrived shortly after being notified at 10:53 p.m.
“We believe it was a mechanical failure,” McNeilly said. “We were on the scene for between 15 and 20 minutes putting out the fire.”
Manchester Fire’s Ladder 1 and Car 3 responded. Gloucester Fire’s Engine 2 and an Essex Fire tanker were initially dispatched but the requests were later cancelled.
While fire crews worked to extinguish the blaze, State Police closed the southbound lanes of Route 128 for a short period. Manchester Police and the Massachusetts State Police also responded to the scene.
Manchester Fire officials said the cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
— Stephen Hagan
In other news taken from the logs of Cape Ann’s police and fire departments:
Gloucester
Friday, March 13
{br class=”Apple-interchange-newline” /}11:43 p.m.: An individual was arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct following a reported disturbance.
Medical emergencies: Peace was restored at 7:33 a.m. on Maplewood Avenue. Services were provided at 1:25 p.m. on Washington Street. Individuals were taken to a hospital from Cleveland Street at 3:51 p.m. and from Old County Road at 10:38 p.m. Calls at 3 a.m. on Chestnut Street, 8:23 p.m. on Friend Street, and 11:07 p.m. on Eastern Avenue were referred to another agency.
Motor vehicle crash with property damage only reported: Services were provided on Route 128 north at 3:10 p.m., at Washington and Bennet streets at 3:34 p.m., and on Linden Avenue at 4:01 p.m.. An individual was arrested at 10:04 p.m. on Dory Road on charges of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor.
5:54 p.m.: A vehicle was towed near exit 54 on Route 128 South.
Larceny: Services were provided at 11:13 a.m. on New Way Lane and at the CVS on Gloucester Crossing Road at 5:36 p.m.
Burglar alarms: The Liquor Locker on Main Street was checked at 4:33 a.m. Paws at Play on Eastern Avenue was checked and secured at 3:39 p.m.
1:54 p.m.: Services were provided for a report of stolen property on Washington Street.
10:28 a.m.: An individual was charged with having an uninsured, unregistered motor vehicle. The vehicle was towed.
Rockport
Monday, March 16
2:52 a.m.: A mini-beat was conducted at the intersection of Granite Street and Gott Avenue.
2:01 a.m.: A building was on Broadway was checked and secured.
Sunday, March 15
Medical emergencies: Ambulance transports were conducted from South Street at 11:26 a.m. and Highview Road at 8:13 p.m..
4:48 p.m.: A vehicle crash at the intersection of Broadway and Main Street was reported.
2:20 a.m.: A building on Broadway was checked and secured.
Saturday, March 14
Medical emergencies: Ambulance transport was conducted on Granite Street at 6:30 a.m. and again at 9:32 p.m.
7:32 p.m.: After a report was received about a situation on Bearskin Neck, Animal Control was notified.
1:20 p.m.: After a motor vehicle stop on Thatcher Road, a civil infraction was issued.
2:25 a.m.: A building on Broadway was checked and secured.
Friday, March 13
6:14 p.m.: After a motor vehicle stop on Main Street, a verbal warning was issued.
10:03 a.m.: A police wellness check was conducted on Main Street.
7:34 a.m.: After a medical alarm was reported on Story Street, someone was reportedly spoken to.
4:46 a.m.: A medical emergency ambulance transport was conducted from Beach Street.
1:13 a.m.: A building on Broadway was checked and secured.
Thursday, March 12
Medical emergencies: Ambulance transport was conducted from Main Street at 8:03 a.m., and from Granite Street at 10:26 a.m. and 3:49 p.m.
3:09 p.m.: A report was made about alleged larceny/forgery/fraud on Main Street.
2:07 a.m.: A building on Broadway was checked and secured.
Manchester-by-the-Sea
Sunday, March 15
Traffic stops were made on Pine Street at 4:52 p.m. when a written warning was issued and on Pleasant Street at 7:44 p.m. when a verbal warning was given.
Individuals were assisted on Harold Street at 3:27 a.m. and on Union Street at 7:20 p.m.
6:14 p.m.: A community policing call was conducted at the intersection of Putnam Court and Brook Street.
12:46 a.m.: An area at the intersection of Union Street and Chapel Lane was checked and secured.
Saturday, March 14
Fire alarms reported on Sumer Street at 7:35 p.m. and Smiths Point Road at 8:31 p.m. were later determined to be false.
7:43 p.m.: After a motor vehicle stop on Mill Street, a written warning was issued.
11:23 a.m.: A community policing call was conducted at the intersection of Beach and Summer streets.
10:58 a.m.: Someone was reportedly spoken to after a motor vehicle stop on Norwood Avenue.
9:28 a.m.: A report was made about an alleged theft on Pleasant Street.
1:40 a.m.: An area at the intersection of Union Street and Chapel Lane was checked and secured.
Friday, March 13
Traffic stops: Written warnings were issued on Pine Street at 11:57 a.m. and on Pleasant Street at 2:27 p.m.
1:55 p.m.: Assistance was provided to a person on Central Street.
11:23 a.m.: A report was made about an alleged theft on Crooked Lane.