A massive fire broke out at an apartment complex in Randolph, Massachusetts, on Sunday night, prompting large-scale evacuations and warnings from police and town officials about smoke in the area, as well as low water pressure.
The Randolph Fire Department was called to the multi-family residential blaze at 60 Bridle Path Circle just after 6 p.m., and the fire was still active late Sunday night. The acting fire chief told NBC10 Boston that there were multiple collapses, including the roof and walls.
According to the fire chief, one person was injured after he jumped from a second floor balcony to the ground. He was taken to the hospital with minor burns.
There were no sprinklers inside, the fire chief said, and the building is a total loss, leaving more than 80 people without a home.
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Cell phone video obtained by NBC10 Boston showed bright orange and yellow flames shooting from the roof of the Woodview Apartment Complex, while another video taken from a nearby neighborhood showed dark smoke billowing into the sky behind a line of trees.
Randolph police asked people to avoid the area of Bridle Path Circle, Highland Avenue, and Highland Glen Drive. They also advised residents that they may notice an increased amount of smoke in the downtown area.
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Residents tell us that they heard the fire alarm go off but didn't immediately realize it was an actual threat. Neighbors were banging on each others doors, letting them know to evacuate.
“There were some children running in the hallway letting people know to get out,” resident Gregory Kimble said.
“Knock and run, knock and run, hey fire, hey there’s a fire,” Tayvonn Savage said. "Everyone was just trying to make sure each other was okay, make sure everyone that they knew, neighbors and all, were out of the building.”
Some helped the elderly make their way out of the building.
“There was a lady on the first floor, I mean, another young lady had to help lift her over the banister because she’s an elderly woman. She’s in the house all day long,” Anthony Rivers said.
Several witnesses described flames spreading very quickly from one end of the apartment complex to the other. Families watched for hours as their possessions went up in flames.
Fire crews were shooting water down onto the building, trying to keep it from spreading.
"In the beginning it was really bad because we were standing over by the pool and we could feel all the heat from the building standing by the swimming pool. It was really bad, really bad," Rivers said. "That building is really a mess right now.”
The American Red Cross has been stationed at the Randolph Intergenerational Community Center, located at 128 Pleasant Street, to assist residents displaced by the fire, police said.
According to the Red Cross, 33 apartments were impacted by the blaze.
The Town of Randolph told residents there would be low water pressure and possible water discoloration as fire crews continue to contain and extinguish the blaze.
"This will continue overnight," the town said in a Facebook post.
Firefighters from several nearby towns responded to the scene to assist, including Canton.
"Thank you to Randolph Fire and the many surrounding Fire Departments for your amazing work today," the town said.
There was no immediate word on the possible cause of the fire. The fire marshal is investigating.
