Residents of a Somerville, Massachusetts, apartment building experienced a harrowing ordeal as a fire swept through their building, resulting in several injuries and dramatic rescues. The blaze ignited late Sunday inside a unit on the second floor of the Somerville Housing Authority building on Powder House Boulevard, as reported by WCVB.
Upon their arrival, firefighters were greeted by smoke blanketing the second and third floors, and multiple residents were trapped. According to a NBC Boston report, there were screaming people hanging out of windows in desperate need of rescue. In a statement obtained by WCVB, Somerville Fire Department Chief Charles Breen mentioned one particularly dramatic intervention, where "Another resident had actually dragged a mattress over that I believe maybe was out for the rubbish and put it down before the person jumped. And also a deputy chief helped break the woman's fall when she fell, so I think that prevented some more serious injuries."
The fire saw various heroic acts as emergency responders worked aggressively to reach those in peril. One incident involved firefighters using an aerial ladder to save two people from the third floor, as detailed by NBC Boston. In a distressing discovery amidst the chaos, firefighters found one person unconscious in the bathroom of the second-floor apartment where the fire started, who is now in serious condition.
Chief Charles Breen commended the coordinated rescue effort, remarking to NBC Boston, "We had a lot to contend with when we arrived. There were multiple people hanging out windows. People screaming. The tremendous effort was done by the fire department. The police department was here also assisting us. It was just a tremendous effort by all involved." The bravery displayed by first responders included injuries within their own ranks, as WCVB reported that one firefighter was injured during the effort, but fortunately, is expected to recover.
For those affected by the tragedy, the Red Cross is currently providing aid, as noted by WCVB. With nine units now deemed "uninhabitable," the harsh reality sets in for residents who have lost their homes. The cause of the inferno is still under investigation.
