Firefighters rescued a trapped resident during a house fire in Lawrence, Massachusetts, on Friday afternoon.
Aerial video showed multiple fire vehicles at the scene of a fire in a 3-story home on Salem Street. The fire was originally reported shortly before 3 p.m.
Fire officials said when crews arrived there was one person trapped near a third floor window. Firefighters entered to make the rescue, but became disoriented and had to leave by ladder. They were able to rescue that resident, who was also removed by ladder.
That person and two others were taken to the hospital with what firefighters described as minor injuries.
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Lawrence Fire Chief Brian Moriarty said the design of the building and the weather made this call a challenge.
"It was extremely tough. It was a lot of fire for a midday fire and it is cold and it gets crowded, and the wind - nothing ever goes in your favor right?" The wind in this particular fire was blowing so it was blocking our exit. We could go into the door it just made it that much more difficult to see, (smoke) filled the hallways, harder to find the doorways went right up the stairway. Just the way the cards were dealt to us this time," Moriarty said.
Jill Harmacinski of The Eagle-Tribune reported that the fire had been knocked down as of 3:45 p.m.
The building has multiple apartments in it and around 15 people will have to find another place to stay for the night.
Moriarty said there is extensive damage, but he does not think the building is a total loss.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
