Sign of the times: Sox landmark CITGO sign scorched

[clevfan]

Sign of the times: Sox landmark scorched

By Jessica Fargen | Wednesday, October 15, 2008
BOSTON HERALD

The Red Sox haven’t been on fire lately, but over the lunch hour today Fenway Park most recognized landmark almost went up in flames.

Frantic drivers and passersby desperately called 911 just before noon to report that flames and smoke were coming out of the nationally known Citgo sign that towers over Fenway Park, said Boston Fire spokesman Steve MacDonald.

The fire is out now, but the feeling of doom might be hard to shake.

“Basically, things have gone from bad to worse in the area of Kenmore Square,” said MacDonald, when asked if the fire might be a bad omen for the struggling Sox, who trail 3-1 in the American League Championship Series and face elimination tomorrow night. “But tomorrow is a new day and hopefully everything will be much brighter tomorrow.”

MacDonald said that when firefighters arrived at 11:45 a.m., smoke and flames were visible on the sign.

“There were flames and it was melting also,” MacDonald said. “When firefighters arrived, there was fire showing.”

MacDonald said it appears that a short circuit sparked a fire in the plastic facade behind the sign bulbs. The fire was quickly extinguished.

The fire caused approximately $5,000 in damage, he said.


Firefighters climbed inside the Kenmore Square Citgo sign light and poured water on a small fire that broke out this afternoon.