WAKEFIELD — Chief Michael Sullivan reports that the Wakefield Fire Department and its mutual aid partners knocked down a four-alarm fire Sunday at a 2½-story wood frame building housing a pizza shop and apartments.
A first alarm was struck at 4:04 p.m. Sunday after someone spotted fire from the outside of the building. Crews immediately struck a second alarm upon arrival. Shortly after that, a third alarm was struck. A fourth alarm was struck at 4:52 p.m. when firefighters evacuated the building because of structural damage.
Crews worked quickly and deliberately in preventing spread of the fire to neighboring buildings, one of which almost touched the burning structure.
Four residents were displaced. The businesses in the building were closed at the time of the fire and will remain closed for the near future.
There were no serious injuries.
The fire does not appear to be suspicious in nature, but it remains under investigation by the Wakefield Fire Department. The State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit attached to the State Fire Marshal’s Office is assisting with the investigation.
On-scene mutual aid was provided by the Lynnfield, Malden, Melrose, Middleton, North Reading, Reading, Saugus, Stoneham, Wilmington, Winchester and Woburn fire departments. Burlington, Danvers and Lynn crews provided station coverage.
“We’re very fortunate the fire didn’t extend to another property,” Chief Sullivan said. “That’s a credit to the firefighters who were at the scene. All the communities worked very closely together.”
