Published in the June 23, 2017 edition

A MEMBER OF THE Melrose ladder company cut a hole in the roof of 62 Goss Ave. Sunday. (Tim Gorman Photo)

A MEMBER OF THE Melrose ladder company cut a hole in the roof of 62 Goss Ave. Sunday. (Tim Gorman Photo)

MELROSE — In stifling humidity, firefighters battled a three-alarm blaze Fathers’ Day afternoon that badly damaged a home on Goss Avenue.

Fire officials said the first call for heavy smoke and fire at 62 Goss Ave. came around 3:35 p.m., followed by several others. Engine 3 was the first to arrive at the scene, within three minutes of the call being received. Lt. Jay Morneault reported heavy flames going over the roof, meaning they had reached into the soffit. Morneault immediately reportedly a working fire.

In what a department spokesman called a “great strategic call,” Morneault and Firefighter Chris Brogan advanced an attack line to the rear of the home and began knocking down the fire from the outside. Firefighters reported a tremendous amount of fire and heat on the deck of the home, where the fire began. This work by Morneault and Brogan, the spokesman said, slowed the advance of the fire into the attic and gave other companies time to get attack line in place.

The other crewman on Engine 3, Firefighter John McCarron, hooked up a five inch hose to a fire hydrant located across the street and put much water on the fire as well.

Capt. Peter Grant arrived and took control of the situation. At 3:40 p.m. a second alarm was struck, which brought crews from Saugus, Wakefield, Stoneham and Malden.

Lt. Barry Canavan and Firefighter Matt Brammer on the Melrose ladder truck cut a hole in the roof, slowing the horizontal spread of the fire across the attic.

All floors were searched. No injuries were reported.

Flames reached into the first floor, the walls of the first floor, into the second floor and the attic.

“This was a serious fire. The house was well-involved when we arrived. It really was all hands on deck in the early stages and the guys were taking a serious beating. It was in the 80s and the dew point was at like 70 percent,” according to Fire Capt. Ed Collina.

Fire Chief Chris Leary ordered a third alarm be struck mainly to relieve those men who had been involved in the fire fight.

Cataldo Ambulance set up a mist tent for firefighters and provided water and ice to keep their core temperatures down.

The blaze, which was investigated by Capt. John White, was determined to be an accident caused by a malfunctioning grill. Propane tanks stored near the grill were probably involved too, as neighbors reported hearing an explosion.

The fire caused an estimated $400,000 to $450,000 in damage. It is not fit to be occupied since there was fire damage on all floors and heavy soot and water damage.

“This was a tremendous slugfest by all those involved,” Collina said. “Because of their efforts the house will be salvaged.”