Firefighters battled a four-alarm fire at a multifamily residence on Porter Street in Malden Friday, with thick smoke pouring from the building and flames appearing to spread to a structure next door. The blaze was reported at 85 Porter St. shortly before noon, sending crews scrambling to the scene as residents were urged to steer clear of the area.
According to WCVB, thick smoke could be seen billowing from the building at 85 Porter St., and the flames appeared to have spread to an adjacent building. As reported by NBC Boston, firefighters were battling a fire in a multi-story building in Malden, and photos from the scene showed heavy smoke rising from the structure.
Crews Rush to Porter Street as Smoke Fills the Sky
The Malden Fire Department said in a Facebook post, cited by NBC Boston, that its crews were at a working fire on Porter Street and asked people to avoid the area. Patch reported the fire was first called in shortly before 12 p.m. Friday, matching the timeline described in other accounts of the response.
Saugus Fire was assisting at the scene, per NBC Boston's report, and the same mutual aid was separately noted by Patch, which said the Saugus Fire Department was providing mutual aid assistance. Patch also reported that residents were being asked to avoid the area while crews worked to get the fire under control.
Injuries, Cause Still Unclear as Investigation Continues
WCVB reported there had been no reports of injuries as of its account of the fire, though NBC Boston's report noted that few details were immediately available at the time of publication. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to the station's report, and no further details on the blaze's origin had surfaced as crews continued working the scene.
The extent of damage to either building and whether anyone was displaced had not been detailed in available reports as firefighters continued their response Friday afternoon.
