Fire crews battle large fire in Chelsea neighborhood

CHELSEA, Mass. — Fire crews worked to contain a fire that began in a Chelsea neighborhood on Tuesday night.

The roof of one of the multi-family buildings on Cottage Street could be seen scorched by the fire.

When a Boston 25 news crew arrived at the scene, flames could still be seen erupting in the back of the multi-family home.

Chelsea Fire Chief Jon Quatieri said seven residents were displaced and that the building is considered to be a total loss.

Flames spread to one of the buildings immediately next to the home where the fire originally began.

The side walls on the 2nd and 3rd floors appeared to be completely destroyed by the flames.

The rear staircase of the building also completely collapsed and the roof had begun to sag and cave by the time the fire was extinguished by 8:45 p.m.

As the building grew increasingly dangerous to be inside, firefighters were ordered to evacuate, Quatieri said.

Firefighters could be seen hacking away at the back of the building to gain better access to the flames.

A resident told Boston 25 News he was concerned that the flames were going to spread even further and that the family inside the building where the fire began likely “lost ever.”

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