Published in the October 10, 2016 edition
WAKEFIELD — Quick action by a homeowner and a rapid response by the Fire Department likely prevented a house fire on Butternut Road early this morning from turning into a far worse situation.
The Fire Department was called to the home at about 5:15 a.m. and found a heavy smoke condition inside the house at 37 Butternut Rd. owned by Anthony and Cheryl Desimone, Fire Chief Michael Sullivan said. He added that because the homeowner had used a fire extinguisher prior to firefighters’ arrival and was able to assist them in locating the area of the fire amid the heavy smoke conditions, the fire was prevented from causing further damage.
Fire alarms at the house initially alerted the family of four to the fire, Sullivan said. With the assistance of the homeowner, firefighters were able to locate the fire, which originated from an outside light on a porch. The fire apparently followed the wiring into an exterior wall and a ceiling bay in the basement just below the living room. The fire was starting to attack the living room, Sullivan said, where firefighters were able to stop it. He said that it was very fortunate that the fire did not spread further and credited fire crews and the homeowner’s quick action.
Sullivan said that the house was equipped with residential sprinklers but due to the nature of the fire in the walls and ceilings the sprinklers would have been of limited use.
Sullivan said that there was no structural damage to the home but the family will be displaced while significant smoke damage to the house is addressed. Engines 1 and 2 plus Ladder 1 responded to the fire, led by Capt. Paul Pronco. A Stoneham engine also responded. Melrose and Reading crews covered the station while Wakefield crews were out.
