Page 8 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 30, 2026 FIRE | FROM PAGE 1 at least 15 people displaced from their homes. Firefighters from seven other communities responded to the fire scene as part of Malden’s mutual aid network, assisting in firefighting operations alongside local fire companies. One Malden firefighter was reported hurt at the scene and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of minor injuries and released. Malden firefighters were summoned to the scene at about 9:45 a.m. Friday and reported the triple-decker home at 85 Porter St. was fully engulfed in flames in the rear of the residence, on the back porches. A second alarm was sounded immediately, followed by a third alarm when the flames appeared to be spreading to adjacent structures. Other firefighting apparatus from other communities, such as Everett, Revere, Saugus and Chelsea, quickly began to arrive. In all, some 14 communities provided mutual aid, with firefighters MUSINGS | FROM PAGE 6 more thing, sir” — Howdy! I’m The Old Ranger and Death Valley aka Maldonia is my old stampin’ ground. Manys the tale of adventure I’m going to tell you about the Death Valley country — true stories, mind you. I can vouch for that! Did you know that... there is this thing that goes on in our sister city of Maldon aka Maeldun, England, every single year? It is Eastern England’s annual “Maldon Mud Race,” and it had its beginnings way back in 1974. (Digression time: I was a junior at MHS in ’74 and sadly, we spent more time at Joe & Nemo’s, Schopell’s, IHOP, Jack in the Box and Jack Haney’s Bar & Grille than we did in class!) It’s an annual charity race held in the spring at Promenade Park in Maldon, Essex, England, where entrants compete to complete a 550-yard dash in thick mud over the bed of the River Blackwater. The race can only take place when the tide is low enough to allow participants to cross the river safely. By Jove, that is cracking! Hardy locals start from one bank and make their way to the other side, negotiating 275 yards of mud along the river, and then return to the original riverbank. as firefighters on scene. The Red Cross workers immediately went to work assisting the displaced Porter Street residents with potential shelter destinations, which they prioritize at fire scenes. “We saw heavy fire in the A Malden firefighter sustained minor injuries at the scene and left via an ambulance to be treated. (Advocate Photo/Courtesy Michael Layne) rear porches extending to three-deckers on both sides,” Malden Assistant Fire Chief Leonard Dunn said at the scene, according to televised reports. “It was a very difficult fire to fight. We did a quick primary search of the building to make sure everybody was out, but there was just overlapping fire in the rear of the building.” “You’ll see in the rear that [the Flames engulfed the rear porches of the three-family home that was destroyed in a four-alarm fire at 85 Porter St. last week. (Courtesy Photo) from Cambridge, Medford, Lynn, Stoneham, Melrose, Boston and Somerville also on the scene attacking the blaze. In addition, Malden Fire Department officials reported firefighter crews and apparatus from Winchester, This year’s race took place on April 26 so if you’re in merry old England next April or so, give it a go, as they say in Old Blighty. Sounds like a silly tradition but I am positive the Saint Rocco Grease Pole would also sound mighty silly to our brothers and sisters in Maldon, England! One last smiley face. Postscript 1: Speaking of Lino, both he and his cousin Rocco (Saracini) joined our merry little gang of misfits and hooligans back in the late 1960s straight from the mother country, Italy. Long story short, welcomed (of course) into the Devir/Edgeworth gang immediately, both brought the game of futbol aka soccer into our lives. We played every sport imaginable. But soccer. Both inspired a generation of soccer players, such as Dave Surette, Dave Angelo (all-star goalie, btw), Johnny Cagno, Bobby Bellavia, Kevin Cullen, Tommy Cronin, Mike Ploumbidis, Jeff “Big Jeff” Thompson and Dave Twohig. Postscript 2: The Bell Inn on Lowell Street in Peabody was the place to be last Wednesday night as the Boston Horns’ Henley Douglas Jr. took center stage in their underground speakeasy bar. Henley killed it on sax Woburn, Chelsea and Wakefield also were in Malden during firefighting operations, covering local fire stations during the fire. Also on scene were EMT crews from Malden-based Cataldo Ambulance as well as personnel from all night long, blowing us away with great solo after great solo. I didn’t realize how much I missed his masterful playing until he and the rest of the trio bust out into “On the Sunny Side of the Street.” I almost got up to dance! Almost. These cats can flat out play. They’ll be having a once-amonth residency at the Bell Inn, so go see them nice and make sure you throw gelt in the tip jar. While you are there say hello to my grandson Christian: working part-time in his first job while matriculating at Peabody High as a junior. Postscript 3: Of course there is a Malden connection. Back in 1993 when Henley and the Heavy Metal Horns ruled Boston up and down the North Shore, they toured worldwide with Extreme as their horn section on Extreme’s third album, “III Sides to Every Story.” More on this super talented musician in the future. Malden Musings is off next week, dig ya later, Daddyos! —Peter is a longtime Malden resident and a regular contributor to The Malden Advocate. He can be reached at PeteL39@aol. com for comments, compliments or criticisms. Malden firefighters attacking the four-alarm blaze on Porter Street head on (Courtesy Photo) American Red Cross, all providing support for the displaced and other Malden residents, as well fire] burned the porches right off,” Assistant Chief Dunn added. “These old porches, most of them are soaked with oil accumulated through the years, and as soon as they get going, they go up quickly.” As of Advocate press time Wednesday, the fire remained under investigation and a cause of the blaze had not been determined. Movie Night at the Malden Public Library on Nov. 18 P lease join the Malden Public Library for Movie Night on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, from 6:00-8:15 p.m. The Library will be showing “I Swear,” a 2025 film based on the life and memoir of John Davidson called “I Swear: My Life with Tourette’s.” The film stars Robert Aramayo, Maxine Peake and Scott Ellis Watson and it is directed by Kirk Jones. This critically acclaimed film helps bring about awareness about people living with Tourette syndrome. “The inspiring, extraordinary life story of notable Tourette Syndrome activist, John Davidson – played by BAFTA award winner Robert Aramayo. This emotionally engaging, funny and compelling film charts John Davidson’s Tourette’s diagnosis at the age of 14 years old. Set within 1980s Britain, the story follows him throughout his troubled teens and early adulthood, and explores this little known and entirely misunderstood condition, along with his attempts to live a ‘normal’ life against the odds.” Free snacks will be provided. Movie times are approximate. Rated R — 96% on Rotten Tomatoes — 125 minutes.
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