Reading, MA – At 1:04 AM on July 9, the Reading Public Safety Dispatch Center received a report from an off-duty firefighter stating that both a house and a barn behind it were on fire. Reading Fire Department units were immediately dispatched to the scene.
Upon arrival, firefighters encountered a fully involved detached garage and a large historic home already consumed by heavy fire. Recognizing the severity of the incident and the need for additional resources, the Incident Commander quickly struck a third alarm, bringing in assistance from mutual aid partners across the region.
The complex fire scene, with two structures involved, demanded a high level of coordination and a tremendous effort by all responding personnel. The home was under construction and vacant at the time of the fire. Firefighters faced several challenges, including high heat, thick smoke, a temporary lack of resources during the initial response, and the inherent dangers of a structure still under construction.
For the safety of all personnel, the fire operation transitioned from an internal offensive attack to an external defensive strategy. After many hours of intense work under difficult conditions, the fire was brought under control around 2:00 PM.
Although some firefighters were treated on scene for minor heat exhaustion, there were no injuries reported.
The Reading Fire Department remains on scene, continuing to check for hot spots and confirming the complete extinguishment of the fire. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Reading Fire Department, Reading Police Department, and the Massachusetts State Police Fire Investigative Unit.
“I am very proud of the hard work by all members of the Reading Fire Department and very thankful for the vital support and professionalism of all our mutual aid partners,” said Fire Chief Rick Nelson.
The Reading Fire Department extends sincere appreciation to its mutual aid partners as well as the Reading
DPW and Police department for their critical assistance during this challenging incident.
