An investigation is currently underway after a fire decimated a well-known Portuguese bakery in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Boston 25 News reports that late Wednesday night, firefighters rushed to the scene at Sunrise Bakery on Bolton Street following reports of smoke. The fire quickly escalated as heavy flames were observed shooting from the structure.
Despite the efforts to contain the fire, it eventually spread to the attic, compelling the firefighting teams to rapidly evacuate before the roof gave in. New Bedford Fire Chief Brian Medeiros later confirmed that although the bakery is believed to be a total loss, his crew's responsive actions were to thank for preventing further damage to adjacent buildings. While there were no serious injuries, Chief Medeiros did note a couple minor slips on ice at the scene, according to Boston 25 News.
The Sunrise Bakery, a staple in the community known for its authentic Portuguese pastries and award-winning sausages and cheese rolls, was established in 1980 by two brothers, as reported by The Boston Globe. City Councilor Joseph Lopes, representative of the district, stated, "Growing up in New Bedford, everyone knows Sunrise Bakery." Lopes has reached out to the bakery's owner regarding reconstruction efforts but deferred further questions to the fire department, which has yet to provide comments on the incident.
Details on what might have caused the fire are still not clear. The bakery's ownership, which also operates a second location in Dartmouth, has not yet been available for comment. Coverage of the incident is ongoing as WCVB adds they will continue to provide more information as it becomes available.
