FIREFIGHTERS CONDUCT an overhaul operation after knocking down flames during a two alarm house fire on Stark Avenue last night. (Courtesy Photo)

FIREFIGHTERS CONDUCT an overhaul operation after knocking down flames during a two alarm house fire on Stark Avenue last night. (Courtesy Photo)

Published in the March 24, 2017 edition.

WAKEFIELD — Clean laundry that somehow ignited on a stovetop is being cited as the cause of a two alarm house fire on Stark Avenue last night.

According to Fire Chief Michael Sullivan, his department received numerous calls for a reported house fire at 17 Stark Ave. at approximately 9:16 p.m.

Firefighters under the command of Captain Thomas Purcell arrived at 9:18 p.m. to find smoke and fire venting out of both sides of the two-story wood frame house. A second alarm was struck at 9:32 for manpower, bringing Stoneham, Reading and Melrose engines and a North Reading ladder truck to the fire.

The fire started in the kitchen on the first floor of the two family home. A detailed investigation by the Wakefield Fire Department fire investigation team revealed that a basket of clean laundry was left on a stove top adjacent to the first floor unit’s washer and dryer.

It appears that a burner for the stove was inadvertently left on or accidentally turned on when the laundry basket was placed on the stove. The clothing subsequently ignited on top of the stove and started to spread throughout the kitchen area. The fire was able to spread rapidly due to the narrow galley style kitchen and low ceilings inside the unit.

The two occupants were unaware of the fire as they were in their bedrooms at the time of ignition, which allowed heat to build up rapidly once the fire started. Occupants of the second floor apartment, Marissa Landry and Kevin Nawoickik, were alerted to the fire by the smoke rising up the stairwell and through the floor into their unit. According to Sullivan, Nawoickik made his way down the front stairs and alerted the two first floor occupants of the fire. At that point all four occupants exited the house as smoke detectors throughout the home started to sound.

At least two of the building occupants called 911 to report the fire.

Sullivan praised the first responding firefighters for quickly knocking down of the fire. Firefighters were able to quickly deploy two hose lines into the building, hitting the fire as it started to extend out of exterior doorways and up the exterior of the building. The entire first floor apartment suffered extensive fire, heat and smoke damage. The second floor unit suffered extensive smoke as well as some heat damage.

There were no injuries as a result of the fire.

The four building occupants will be displaced for an extended period of time until repairs can be made.

The two-family home is owned by Oliver Hayes of Reading.

Property damage is estimated to be in excess of $100,000.

A Lynnfield ladder truck and a Woburn engine covered the town at Wakefield fire headquarters during the fire.

Wakefield firefighters were back in quarters around 11:50 p.m.