5 residents, infant displaced after fire in multifamily home in Webster

WEBSTER, Mass. — Firefighters battled a blaze at a multifamily home on Chase Avenue early Tuesday, sending residents fleeing out into the bitter cold.

Brenda Waleski, who lives on the second floor told Boston 25 News she heard a popping noise and smelled smoke, and alerted the family on the first floor -- a couple and a baby -- before evacuating with her two sons.

The made it out unharmed, but lost everything in the fire.

"Right now I'm still in shock, I'm just taking it as it goes, it hasn't really hit me yet," Waleski said.

The strong winds and freezing temperatures made it difficult, but the firefighters were able to get the flames quickly. Fire Chief Brian Hickey said it appeared to be an electrical fire.

"It actually started on the first floor and made its way up through the chase way. It’s a balloon-frame construction so there are no fire stops in the building," said Hickey. "Fortunately nobody got hurt, everyone goes home tonight nice and safe."

Strong wind gusts likely helped fuel the fire to a 3-alarm and firefighters also had roads covered in sheets of ice to contend with from blustery temperatures.

The Red Cross says it's assisting the six residents that were displaced.

The State Fire Marshal's office was at the scene investigating the cause of the fire.

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