As many as seven people are missing as crews battle a 3-alarm fire in a Lowell apartment building, officials said Thursday morning.
The fire was located at a building on Branch Street. Lowell is 30 miles outside of Boston. The fire has been knocked down, but some hot spots remain.
Lowell Deputy Chief Patrick McCabe said the building is compromised and crews will be working to locate those who are reported as missing.
McCabe said it is believed there were approximately 48 people in the building and those who are out have been brought to a shelter.
Investigators from the state's Office of State Fire Marshal are on the scene. Officials say if those unaccounted for are in the building, it will be a recovery effort.
There is no word on the cause of the fire.
