CREWS WORKED a two-alarm fire at 17 Albion St. last night. The cause remains under investigation. (Bob Sartori Photo)
WAKEFIELD — All occupants escaped safely but one occupant had to be rescued from a fire escape during a fire at 17 Albion St. last night.
The Wakefield Fire Department received a call from police reporting a trash barrel fire in the alley of 19 Albion St. at approximately 8 p.m. last night.
Upon arrival, companies led by Captain Paul Pronco found heavy fire extending up the exterior wall and spreading laterally along the eaves of the structure on the side of the building.
The Engine 1 crew deployed a 1-3/4″ attack line to knock down the heavy exterior fire and then repositioned the line and extended into the second floor attic to cut off the fire.
Police alerted the Fire Department that an occupant was trapped on the rear fire escape of the neighboring property at 19 Albion St. Working together police and Fire raised the ladder and police assisted the female occupant down the ladder to safety.
Wakefield’s Ladder 1 crew conducted a primary search of the structure for any occupants and placed aerial ladder to roof for ventilation. All occupants were evacuated safely.
Wakefield’s Engine 2 crew pulled a second hose-line to the front side of building then entered the first floor unit to conduct an additional search. They then received orders to relocate and assisted the ladder crew with ventilating the roof.
Command struck a second alarm at approximately 8:05 p.m. Provisional Chief Thomas Purcell arrived and assumed command of the incident.
Mutual aid companies from Reading, Stoneham, Melrose and North Reading responded to the scene on the second alarm to assist Wakefield companies. Lynnfield, Saugus and Woburn apparatus covered Fire Department headquarters during the fire.
One occupant who lived on the second floor was transported to the hospital as a precaution.
The fire was declared under control within approximately 45 minutes.
Two occupants of the building were displaced due to the fire and smoke damage with Wakefield Emergency Management Director Tom Walsh assisting with obtaining temporary housing for the victims.
“Thanks to the strong work of the initial responding companies, the Department was able to quickly extinguish the heavy fire found on arrival, stopping any extension into the attic space of the building,” said Provisional Fire Chief Thomas Purcell. “The fire would have surely extended to the structures on either side of the fire building due to the close proximity.”
The Fire Chief also praised the work of the on-duty Wakefield Police Officers who were able assist firefighters in rescuing a trapped woman from the rear fire escape unharmed.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Wakefield Fire Department with assistance from the Massachusetts State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit attached to the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
