Residents in Reading’s historic district were awakened by sirens and the glow of flames early this morning as fire crews labored to contain a significant blaze that damaged a large home and barn on Summer Ave. Boston 25 News reports that the fire began around 1:30 a.m., when a firefighter on his way back from another call spotted the fire and quickly called for backup.
Upon their frantic arrival, firefighters encountered a barn completely engulfed in flames, with the fire having already spread to the main house. An attempt to directly confront the blaze from the inside had to be aborted due to the obstruction by construction materials and the perilous conditions of high heat and poor visibility. "When companies went to the inside of the building to try and attack the fire, they found construction debris and some hazards, and the high heat and low visibility, so they were unable to continue the interior attack, so we had to go to an exterior attack," Fire Chief Richard Nelson described in a statement obtained by Boston 25 News. Nelson also noted that the home had been empty for some time, undergoing renovations.
While the blaze was severe, officials have confirmed there were no injuries, as relayed by both Boston 25 News and NBC Boston, which also reported on the incident. Firefighters from neighboring towns joined the battle against the flames, which was documented in video footage showing the ferocity of the blaze as it burned through the night.
The barn was not to be saved, as it was reported fully destroyed in the conflagration. In a testament to the resilience of the fire, a portion of the house that firefighters had thought doused flamed to life again, becoming fully involved. Fire crews are expected to remain on scene to vigilantly monitor and extinguish any potential hot spots. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, with details continuing to unfold.
