In a display of quick-thinking heroism, an Eversource employee has been lauded for rescuing a woman from a blazing fire that consumed a Somerville row house on Monday. The electrical worker, who was on-site before firefighters, rapidly took action spotting the woman in peril on the second floor. According to 7NEWS, witness Al Janik described the scene as a "roaring fire" with flames "flying out the window and everything."
Firefighters arrived at the scene to find heavy flames on the first and second floors, spreading into the attic. Despite the damage contained mainly to one unit, there was significant impact to other units via smoke, and water damage. Somerville Fire Chief Charles Breen, in a statement obtained by NBC Boston, recounted the worker's decisive action, stating, "A dire, dire situation. He threw his bucket, got her into his bucket and rescued her from the fire." Breen emphasized the intensity of the danger, saying, "He did a hell of a job, I can't say enough for his efforts. He definitely saved her. She was in extreme danger."
The rescued woman was subsequently hospitalized for suspected smoke inhalation. Regrettably, the rescue came too late for her beloved dog, which perished in the flames. Officials reported no other injuries. The cause of the fire is still being investigated.
As Chief Breen told 7NEWS, "He did a hell of a job, definitely saved the woman's life. She was in severe danger at the time." The identity of the Eversource worker has not been publicly released, but the community's gratitude for his brave intervention is undoubtedly pervasive.
