By Laura Crimaldi
The Boston Herald
EVERETT, Mass. — Four people, including a little girl, were rescued early yesterday morning from a suspicious three-alarm blaze that broke out in an Everett multifamily home and burned for hours, firefighters said.
Deputy Fire Chief John Berghello said he and his partner, firefighter Michael Baldwin, arrived first at the inferno at 1719 Bow St. at about 11:30 p.m.
The fire erupted in a vacant first-floor apartment in a triple-decker attached to a second triple-decker, said Deputy Chief Bill Humphries. He said the fire was considered suspicious because windows in the unit had previously been boarded, but the boards were missing and flames were pouring out through the windows.
A fire alarm alerted them that there were four people trapped in a third-floor apartment where smoke had filled a back hallway.
“I think if we didn’t go back there, they may have succumbed to smoke inhalation,” Berghello said. “We escorted them out and I’m glad we did that.”
Berghello said one man, two women and a girl were rescued. He said they were disoriented, but did not suffer any serious injuries. The blaze was not put out until 4:30 a.m., he said.
A Chelsea firefighter was treated for shortness of breath, and an Everett jake was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital after a high carbon monoxide reading, Humphries said. Both were treated and released.
A portion of the home collapsed and is considered a total loss with $500,000 worth of damage, Berghello said.
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