Residents rescued from 2-alarm fire at housing complex
The fire ignited in a first-floor bedroom at 23 Dales Ave. at 9:30 a.m., city spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said.
A man in the apartment where the fire started ran from the building but left the unit’s door open. Fire and smoke began filling the hallways, trapping residents on the second and third floors, she said.
Upper-floor residents used a fire escape to get out of the three-story building. The fire escape, however, was connected to the room where the fire began, making it difficult for residents to reach the ground, Morrill said.
One woman at the scene said her entire family, including at least three children, were helped by firefighters on the fire escape.
At least two apartments were damaged. The American Red Cross was assisting an adult and five children with shelter. It’s unclear when other residents will be allowed to return to home.
No one was injured in the fire, although eight people were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation, Morrill said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.