Malden Mayor Recognizes 4 ‘Heroes’ Who Responded to Daycare Fire

Malden Mayor Gary Christenson recently recognized the four citizens who took quick action when they spotted a fire at a Harvard Street residence on Tuesday, Feb. 4.

Fire at Malden Daycare Tuesday >>

Malden Transportation Company (Malden Taxi) School Bus Division employees William McCarthy, Sandy Martineau and Wayne Martineau Jr. were on Bryant Street on their way to work at about 1:30 p.m. that afternoon when they spotted dark smoke billowing from Harvard Street, according to the city.

The employees drove toward the smoke at 101-104 Harvard St. and took action: attempting to put out the flames on the residence’s back porch with a fire extinguisher and evacuating the first-floor daycare of the three-family home, with the daycare’s owner inside, as well as seven napping children all under 5.

Mill Street resident Joe Ivany also assisted at the scene, alerting the residents as well and calling 911.

The children were carried across the street to neighbor Gail Bishop’s home. Bishop took them in without hesitation, according to the city. Her daughter, Michelle Holman, and granddaughter, Fallon Williams, also helped carry the children.

“Without the involvement of these four heroes,” Christenson said, “there would likely have been a very different outcome. I commend them for their willingness to risk their own safety to help their neighbors.”

Twenty-one Malden firefighters responded to the fire with four engines and two ladder companies.