NORTH READING — Chief Don Stats reports that the North Reading Fire Department extinguished a two-alarm fire Sunday.
On Sunday, April 23 at 11:54 a.m., North Reading Fire received a report of a structure fire at 14 Cold Spring Road.
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. Upon arrival, they discovered fire on the second floor of the home.
A second alarm was struck to bring additional manpower to the scene. 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. Firefighters also experienced some access issues due to cluttered conditions inside the home.
The fire was brought under control by approximately 1 p.m.
One person was home at the time, and was unaware of the fire. A neighbor, who noticed smoke coming from the home and called 9-1-1, was able to enter the home and help the resident exit. The resident was transported to an area hospital as a precautionary measure. One firefighter was evaluated at the scene for potential exhaustion or dehydration-related symptoms, and returned to duty.
The home sustained fire, smoke and water damage and is no longer habitable. The resident is displaced and is being assisted by the Red Cross.
North Reading Ladder 1 also responded to the scene, along with mutual aid companies from the Wilmington, Middleton, Reading, Lynnfield and Wakefield Fire Departments. 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,” Chief 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. 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.”
The origin and 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.
