Cambridge firefighters battled a 2-alarm blaze in a multifamily home on River Street early Wednesday morning, rescuing one person who was trapped on the third floor.
One firefighter was treated for a minor ankle injury that occurred during the rescue, the assistant Fire Chief Thomas Cahill told the Globe.
Firefighters evacuated eight people and one cat from the triple-decker at 171-173 River Street early Wednesday, after flames erupted on the building’s second floor.
One resident was rescued from the third floor of the building with a 35-foot ladder and was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
I) 2 alarms, Box 2-38 were ordered this morning for the fire in a 3-story, wood-frame multiple residence at 171 & 173 River St.
— Cambridge Fire Dept. (@CambridgeMAFire) July 6, 2022
Time of the initial alarm: 1228 am
Six engines, 4 ladders, 2 squads, Rescue 1, 2 division chiefs, with command/I)support units worked at the fire. pic.twitter.com/er6GrmDpF0
The Cambridge Fire Department received calls about a stove or oven fire beginning at 12:28 a.m., and a second alarm was struck at 12:40 a.m. They arrived to find “heavy fire” in the building and closed off River Street for an “extended period.”
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The department is investigating the cause of the fire. There is “significant damage” to the house’s roof, but the building “appears salvageable at this time,” the department told the Globe.
II) 2 alarms Box 2-38: Arriving with heavy smoke from the bldg, firefighters rescued 1 trapped resident (w non life threatening injury) from floor 3 over a 35' ladder in a rear alley in the smoke. All other residents & 1 cat were evacuated safely. All 8 residents were displaced. pic.twitter.com/6JUiWM6AKb
— Cambridge Fire Dept. (@CambridgeMAFire) July 6, 2022
“They had heavy fire on the second floor. It was on River Street, I guess, but as you can tell, the building’s tucked about 60, 70 feet behind. The main house was on River Street. They made an aggressive attack on the second floor,” Cahill told NBC 10.
Red Cross Massachusetts is aiding those displaced by the fire, the department said.
III) 2 alarms Box 2-38: @RedCrossMA is assisting displaced residents with housing. Cause of the fire is under investigation. The rescued resident was transported by @ProEMSCambridge to a me facility. At least 1 FF was injured during the rescue.
— Cambridge Fire Dept. (@CambridgeMAFire) July 6, 2022
IC: DFC Colin Walsh
Group 3 on duty pic.twitter.com/eWhxJruhsl
Anjali Huynh was a Globe intern in 2022.Follow her on Twitter @anjalihuynh.