Fire officials say the oil was meant for a Malden home with the same street and number.
MEDFORD, Mass. — A delivery driver pumped about 385 gallons of home heating oil into the basement of a Linwood Street house on Monday afternoon, according to the Medford Fire Department, prompting a hazardous materials response and forcing residents out while cleanup crews worked inside.
Officials said the spill matters now because winter deliveries are ramping up and the mistake displaced people two days before Thanksgiving. The oil was intended for 48 Linwood St. in Malden, not 48 Linwood St. in Medford. Deputy Fire Chief Nicholas Davis said the basement of the Medford home does not contain any oil equipment, which allowed hundreds of gallons to pool on the floor. No injuries were reported, but crews expect a lengthy cleanup and ventilation process before anyone can return.
Police and firefighters shut down Linwood Street for hours as crews isolated the property and began pumping out the basement. The homeowner, Dang Nguyen, said he rushed from work after a call from authorities and was told to grab essentials and stay away until the building is cleared. “We do not have a tank in the basement,” Nguyen said. Davis described how drivers rely on a whistle sound as a tank nears full. Without a tank, there was no whistle, and the flow continued until responders arrived and stopped the delivery. By evening, a red notice marked the entry and only cleanup teams were allowed inside.
Fire officials put the volume at 385 gallons, a figure consistent with the size of a typical residential fill. The department said the home is a multi-family building, and occupants were temporarily relocated while contractors contained and removed oil and contaminated water. Davis said crews used absorbent material, vacuums, and ventilation fans. He said investigators are reviewing how the address mix-up happened between the two cities that share a Linwood Street and the same street number. Officials did not identify the driver. The department said air monitoring would continue until interior levels are safe. The exact time residents can return remains unknown.
Medford has seen prior transportation-related fuel incidents in the region over the years, but officials said this case is unusual because the oil entered a living space rather than spilling outdoors. The property at 48 Linwood St. in Medford has no tank, lines, or fill pipe visible from the exterior, according to the fire department. In neighboring Malden, many older homes still use delivered heating oil during cold months, which can increase delivery traffic on residential blocks. Crews noted the spill occurred the week of Thanksgiving, when schedules tighten and seasonal demand rises.
Authorities said the incident will be reviewed under standard procedures for hazardous material releases and potential violations of state environmental rules. Any enforcement action would typically follow the fire department’s report, insurance notifications, and an assessment by environmental officials. As of Tuesday, no charges had been announced. Davis said his agency would coordinate with city inspectors on structural checks and moisture testing. If laboratory analysis is required for soils or sump discharge, those samples would be collected once the basement is accessible. Contractors are expected to file documentation of the cleanup methods used and disposal manifests for removed material.
Neighbors gathered across the street as crews moved hoses and drums to the entryway. “You could smell it down the block,” said Anthony Russo, who lives nearby and watched the trucks arrive. Another resident said she saw caution tape go up before noon and a line of vehicles from the city and private cleanup firms. Nguyen said he felt shocked and worried about the holidays, adding, “They told me take clothes and medicine and do not come back until they are ready.” Davis said the department’s priority was getting fumes down and preventing any migration to drains.
As of late Tuesday morning, the home remained closed to residents and the basement pump-out and ventilation continued. Officials said the next update would come after air readings are rechecked and the structure is cleared for reentry.
Author note: Last updated November 25, 2025.