Massachusetts

Raging Apartment Fire Leaves Dozens Displaced in Fitchburg, Massachusetts

One person had to be rescued from the third floor; two residents were taken to the hospital

Dozens of people in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, are without a home Sunday night after a multi-alarm fire raged through an apartment building for more than six hours.

Around forty residents who were displaced by the fire watched as raging flames and thick smoke billowed into the sky.

"I cried when it happened," resident Kaylah Gravel said. "We have pictures, wedding photos, our baby's photos."

"I'm in shock, I'm definitely in shock," another resident said.

A call came in around 5:45 p.m. Sunday after flames broke out at 7 Beekman Street. Officials believe it started on the third floor, where one resident was trapped and had to be rescued by firefighters.

Two residents were taken to local hospitals with unspecified injuries.

Flames could be seen shooting Sunday night from the roof of the Bartley Nolan Condominiums, which is an old school building that was refurbished to house 24 separate apartments.

Firefighters encountered water issues initially, and the fire extended into the cockloft, which made it difficult to fight. It remained an active scene late into the night.

Captain Dante Suarez says a couple of dogs were saved but it's possible one cat is still inside.

Those who were displaced by the fire were sheltering at a nearby church while the American Red Cross finds them temporary housing.

It's possible the fire started with some sort of an explosion, according to Fire Captain Dante Suarez. He says they believe there were multiple explosions based on what they heard on scene.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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