NORTH READING, Mass. — One person escaped from a two-alarm fire that destroyed a North Reading house on Sunday, and a fast-acting neighbor is being commended for helping during the emergency, the fire chief said.
The resident was alerted to the fire after a neighbor noticed smoke coming from the Cold Spring Road home and called 911, North Reading Fire Chief Don Stats said in a statement.
“I would also like to recognize the neighbor who noticed the smoke, quickly called 9-1-1 and helped the resident out of the home before firefighters arrived,” Stats said.
The resident was taken by ambulance to an area hospital for evaluation. One firefighter was evaluated at the scene for potential exhaustion or dehydration-related symptoms, and returned to duty.
At 11:54 a.m., the Fire Department received a report of a structure fire at 14 Cold Spring Road.
When firefighters arrived, they found fire on the second floor of the home.
North Reading Engine 3, with Capt. Jon Burt and Firefighters Cory Harris, Jeff Carey and Sean O’Brien, was the first company to arrive on scene.
The fire quickly went to a second alarm. Crews were able to extinguish the initial fire, however there was hidden fire throughout due to the structure of the home and multiple layers of roofing, Stats said.
Firefighters also experienced some access issues due to cluttered conditions inside the home, the fire chief said.
The fire was brought under control by approximately 1 p.m.
The fire caused heavy smoke, fire and water damage to the home, leaving it uninhabitable.
The Red Cross also responded to assist the displaced resident.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the North Reading Fire Department, North Reading Police Department and the State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit attached to the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
North Reading Ladder 1 responded to the scene, along with mutual aid companies from the Wilmington, Middleton, Reading, Lynnfield and Wakefield. The Danvers and Tewksbury Fire Departments provided station coverage.
“The fast action and professional work by our North Reading duty crew and the assisting companies on scene resulted in getting this fire under control safely and efficiently,” Stats said. “We are fortunate to have an exceptional mutual aid system, and I would like to thank the mutual aid crews who responded to the scene as well as covered North Reading while our crews worked at this fire.”
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