Chelsea

Six Injured, Over 30 Displaced After Fire at Chelsea Duplex

Six people, two of whom are firefighters, had to be taken to the hospital with injuries that are not life threatening or serious

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More than 30 people have been displaced and six people were transported to the hospital following an overnight fire at a three-story duplex in Chelsea, according to fire officials.

The Chelsea Fire Department got called just after midnight Wednesday to the fire on Cottage Street, where firefighters arrived to find heavy fire that extended to all three floors of the building.

First responders had reports of multiple people trapped in the burning building, and one person had to be rescued. Crews have been able to knock the fire down, and managed to keep it contained without it extending to other buildings. Fire officials believe the flames started on the back porch. The entire back of the duplex is heavily damaged and it's possibly a total loss.

The fire has left 23 adults and 9 children displaced. Six people, two of whom are firefighters, had to be taken to the hospital with injuries that are not life threatening or serious.

"We contained the fire to the building of origin," Chelsea Fire Chief Leonard Albanese said on scene. "It's a very labor intensive fire fight. Five alarms worth of companies. All of our mutual aid partners, our first arriving company did a tremendous job. Very strong work to contain this to the building or origin."

The office of Massachusetts Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey and the Chelsea Fire Department said in a joint statement that the incident serves as a reminder to practice porch safety.

"The cause of this fire is still under investigation, but it began on a rear porch," Albanese said in the statement. "Porch fires are especially dangerous because they can grow and spread to the rest of the building before anyone inside is aware of the danger. In a densely built area, they can also spread to nearby buildings and put many, many people at risk. It's especially important to practice fire safety on your porch, balcony, or deck."

"Residents of this building reported hearing smoke alarms and most residents were able to escape safely on their own," Ostroskey said in the statement. "Others were rescued by firefighters or assisted out of the building, but they all made it out alive. Without working smoke alarms, this five-alarm fire in the middle of the night could have had been a devastating tragedy that claimed more than just property."

The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services canteen also responded to provide food and water for people who were impacted and for first responders. The organization will also be providing lunch to people displaced by the fire at a nearby hotel. It's working with the Red Cross and other agencies to determine the future needs of the people impacted.

"You know it’s very sad," neighbor Lourdes Chavez said. "A lot of families were displaced last night due to this fire."

Chavez described a scary scene while recalling what it was like to be in the area while the fire was burning.

"A lot of people running, no shoes," she remembered. "You know kids crying, babies crying, you know, a lot of families scared."

The fire remains under investigation.

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