SEVERAL PEOPLE were displaced in a two-alarm fire on Cooper Street yesterday morning. (Frank Conte Photo)
WAKEFIELD — There were no injuries to residents but all occupants of a multifamily home at 4 Cooper St. were displaced after the structure sustained heavy fire and smoke damage yesterday morning.
The Wakefield Fire Department extinguished the second-alarm fire at 4 Cooper St. Tuesday morning, with mutual aid help from area fire departments.
A fire alarm was received at 9:50 a.m., dispatching Wakefield Engines 1 and 2, along with Ladder 1 and Car 3 to the scene. Upon arrival, Engine 2’s lieutenant observed heavy smoke emanating from one side of the 2.5-story wood-frame multi-family dwelling. All occupants were reported to have safely evacuated.
Engine 2 deployed a 1¾-inch handline into the front door and encountered intense fire conditions with zero visibility. Crews navigated the heavy smoke to locate a kitchen fully engulfed in flames, which were spreading into the living room. Ladder 1 raised the aerial ladder to ventilate the roof, while Engine 1 assisted with water supply and deployed a second handline. After a concentrated attack on the base of the fire, the majority of the flames were subdued.
A second alarm was activated at approximately 10:10 a.m. by Shift Commander Captain Randy Hudson. Provisional Chief Tom Purcell assumed overall command, with Deputy Chief John Walsh overseeing operations. Due to the extreme heat and humidity, additional manpower was requested through a second alarm. Mutual aid was provided by fire departments from Melrose, Reading, Stoneham, North Reading, and Saugus.
SEVERAL PEOPLE were displaced in a two-alarm fire on Cooper Street yesterday morning. (Frank Conte Photo)
Thorough searches of the building confirmed that all occupants had evacuated. Firefighters conducted extensive overhaul operations to extinguish remaining pockets of fire. The fire was declared under control at approximately 10:46 a.m. Building utilities were disconnected, and the building inspector was notified.
The fire, which originated in the first floor kitchen, caused significant fire, water, and heat damage to the first floor and basement. The second-floor apartment sustained extensive smoke damage, rendering it uninhabitable. The American Red Cross arrived on the scene at approximately 12:45 p.m. to assist displaced tenants.
Provisional Chief Purcell and the Wakefield Fire Department commend the swift actions of the initial responding companies, particularly Wakefield Engine 2 from the Greenwood district, led by Lieutenant Mike Long. The department also expressed gratitude to mutual aid partners for their assistance in controlling the fire and preventing further damage to the property.
One firefighter experienced heat exhaustion and was treated by Cataldo ambulance but remained on the scene.
The Woburn, Lynnfield Engine, and Lynnfield Ladder companies provided coverage for the Wakefield headquarters during the incident. The State Fire Marshal’s Office is assisting the Wakefield Fire Investigation Unit in determining the cause and origin of the fire.
