Ron Agrella

3-Alarm Blaze Ravages Quincy Multi-Family

Residents narrowly escape as fire razes home

Quincy firefighters grappled with a 3-alarm fire at a multifamily home Sunday morning - reportedly the second fire at the building in five years.

The fire reportedly broke out at about 5:30 a.m. at 41 Copeland St.

The fire broke out in a one story addition attached to the side of the three-story building, said Quincy Fire Capt. Steven Baylis. The fire quickly spread.

John Voss, who lives in the same building, said he and his wife were woken by his neighbor.

"I heard the neighbor screaming," he said. The couple, taking their 3-year-old son, quickly escaped the building.

Baylis said the blaze spread to the rest of the structure, eating its way through the roof.

"It definitely started in the one story building that’s attached almost to the side of the three-story building," Baylis said.

As firefighters arrived, heavy flames shot through the roof as crews deluged the building with flowing water from all sides of the building.

Officials on scene said no injuries were reported and the fire had not spread, although several homes were located nearby the building. Firefighters did not appear to be hampered by the winds or low temperatures recently. 

Despite better weather conditions, the building was described as a "total loss." Three families have been displaced. For Michelle Justice, another resident, it was a moment of deja vu.

"This is the second time I’ve had a fire here... It happened about five years ago," she said.

Multiple crews were on scene, including National Grid. 

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