‘A total loss’: Massive fire destroys home in Newton

NEWTON, Mass. — A massive four-alarm fire that broke out in Newton late Friday night reduced a home to a pile of charred rubble.

Firefighters responding to a report of a blaze at 54 Gray Cliff Road around 10:30 p.m. found flames consuming a multi-level home. Photos and video from the scene showed the flames shooting into the air and lighting up the night sky.

Crews blocked off the area for more than three hours as they battled the fire. Fire officials noted that they struggled to get water up the hill that the home sits on.

“We’re at the top of the hill, so for us that’s a really tough situation. The water mains are not large and when dealing with a home of this size, and the volume of fire we had going on, on arrival you need a lot of water,” Newton Deputy Fire Chief Eric Fricke said. “It’s a really taxing experience for the water system and with home situated at the top of the hill, and apparatus to access the house, it’s just really hard to get that volume of water at the top of the hill at one time.”

A large section of the 5,000-square-foot home collapsed after sustaining significant damage.

“It’s a total collapse. Most of what we’re looking at is the roof from what used to be three stories up in the air from down on the ground and obviously everything between those two points doesn’t exist anymore,” Fricke explained.

There were no reported injuries and the home was empty when the fire broke out.

“No homeowners were home at the time of the fire, so with this large of a house, with this much fire on arrival, I’m just happy everyone got out safe and sound,” Fricke added.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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