2nd alarm Box 2-38

Two alarms, Box 2-38, were ordered on the morning of July 6th for the fire in a 3-story, wood-frame multiple residence at 171 & 173 River St in this very congested neighborhood.

Six engines, 4 ladders, 2 squads, Rescue 1, 2 division chiefs, with command and support units worked at the fire.

Arriving with heavy smoke from the building, rapidly extending fire on floors 2 & 3, extending through the roof & serious exposure problems, firefighters rescued 1 trapped resident from a floor 3 window over a 35' ladder in a rear alley in the smoke. The rescued resident was transported to a medical facility with non-life threatening injury.

 

All other residents & 1 cat were evacuated safely. All 8 residents were displaced and the American Red Cross assisted EPAC (Cambridge Emergency Preparedness & Coordination) with housing.

At least one firefighter received an injury during the successful rescue over the 35' ladder.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

DFC Colin Walsh was the incident commander.

Group 3 was on duty

Time of the initial alarm: 1228 a.m. (0028 hours)

2nd alarm: 1240 a.m. (0040 hours)

Thank you to Cambridge Inspectional Services, Pro EMS, Cambridge Police Department, Cambridge Emergency Communications, and Boston Sparks Association Rehab Unit A-10 for the on-scene support. Thank you also to Eversource MA for the quick response.

As always, thank you to our mutual aid partners, Arlington Fire, Belmont Fire, Brookline Fire, and Somerville Fire for covering in Cambridge during the fire.