Fernald fire evidence points to arson

The initial investigation into the latest fires at the Fernald property is showing that the blazes may have been intentionally set, according to Lt. Mike Murphy, the Waltham Fire Department’s public information officer.

Murphy told The Waltham Times that the investigation is leaning towards the possibility of two intentionally set fires, but the case is still open and ongoing.

According to Murphy, the four-alarm fire burned the entire interior of the schoolhouse, but the building’s brick walls are still standing. The nearby manual training building also suffered damage from a fire in the basement.

According to the Fernald State School website, both buildings were a part of the Walter E. Fernald State School, which opened in 1890. The manual training building was where boys with disabilities were taught classes in printing, furniture repair and activities to improve their motor skills.

This fire marks the second at the historical site since Jan. 18 when a fire burned the inside of Chipman Hall, the school’s female dormitory. Officials determined that a fire in 2020 was set intentionally. A few months later, in April of 2021, a fire at the school’s chapel was also deemed to be the result of arson.

The blaze comes weeks before the May 17 grand opening of a recreation space located on the site of the property at 200 Trapelo Road.

The Waltham Fire Department, Police Department and the Office of the State Fire Marshall are conducting the investigation.

Anyone with information about how the fire started can call the Arson Hotline at 1-800-682-9229. All calls are confidential.

The hotline is part of the Arson Watch Reward Program, which gives up to $5,000 rewards for information that helps prevent or detect an arson crime. The program is funded by the property and casualty insurance underwriting companies of Massachusetts.