Weekend Sees Two Fires

Two fires erupted over the weekend, leaving dozens of Cambridge residents stranded and one well known business closed until further notice.

Shortly after 9:00 p.m. last night, a fire broke out in a Cambridge apartment complex on Harvard Street near Pennypacker Hall.

According to Deputy Fire Chief Francis E. Murphy III, the fire was confined to a fourth floor condominium belonging to an elderly woman. Firefighters were able rescue the woman, who Murphy said probably suffered burns and smoke inhalation.

Murphy said that the blaze was a two-alarm fire and that the cause of the incident is still unknown.

Firefighters shattered the windows on the top floor as they fought to put out the flames for over 45 minutes.

Residents were told they could reenter the building later that night to collect valuables or other essential items. Murphy anticipated that many residents would be able to move back in today.

Divinity School Professor Baber Johansen and his wife Mariapia DiBella—an anthropologist conducting research at Harvard—live directly below the site of the fire.

“All the water is in my working room, on my computer, in my laptop,” DiBella said. “My books are all swimming in the water.”

Neighbors of the elderly woman heard alarms and rushed to her aid.

“There was just black smoke pouring out of the apartment on the top stairs,” said Joe J. Mancini.

Mancini said he and another resident broke down the victim’s door in an attempt to rescue her just before the fire department arrived.

BARTLEY’S ABLAZE

On Saturday morning, a fire broke out in the kitchen of Mr. Bartley’s Burger Cottage, the famed Harvard Square hamburger joint.

Bartley’s general manager, Billy Bartley, said it was the first significant fire in the 48 years that the restaurant has been open.

The fire started in the hood vent at around 10:45 a.m. on Saturday and Bartley said it is unclear when the restaurant will re-open.

According to Deputy Fire Chief Steven G. Leonard, in most restaurants the hood vent releases smoke to the roof—but not at Bartley’s.

“Inspectional services will have to see,” he said.

Bartley initially estimated about $10,000 in damage but acknowledged later that weekend that the repairs needed are more significant than anticipated.

“We’ll be back ASAP, bigger and better than ever.”

“Better, not bigger,” he corrected himself.

—Staff writer Alexandra Perloff-Giles can be reached at aperloff@fas.harvard.edu.

—Staff writer Abby D. Phillip can be reached at adphill@fas.harvard.edu.