WAKEFIELD, Mass. — An investigation is underway in Wakefield after a 71-year-old woman was killed when flames tore through a multi-family apartment building overnight.
A neighbor, who didn’t want to be identified, lives across from the apartment building on the corner of Water Street and Columbia Road.
“The flames were coming out of that last window,” she said. “It was quite something.”
Firefighters arrived at the scene of the six-unit building at 123-125 Water St., after receiving calls about the fire. At least one neighbor said she heard an explosion before she went outside to see what was happening.
“Seeing those flames and the crash and then the fire department breaking all the windows and everything like that,” the neighbor said.
“Upon arrival firefighters found the fire on the second floor,” Wakefield fire Chief Michael Sullivan said. “They were able to quickly stretch some lines and knock the fire down.”
But according to Sullivan, one person was killed. The investigation into how the fire started is in the hands of the state fire marshal’s office.
The identity of the fire victim has not yet been released, but neighbors said she lived in the apartment where they spotted the flames. They told Boston 25 News that she was someone who had been living in the area for quite some time.
No other information was released.
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