A fire in Reading, Massachusetts, injured a resident and a firefighter on Wednesday evening, leaving two people displaced and crews struggling in difficult conditions.
Firefighters responded just before 6 p.m. to a two-and-a-half-story home on James Road, where heavy flames greeted them in freezing temperatures. The blaze quickly escalated, forcing crews to act fast.
Reading Fire Chief Rick Nelson said that the team discovered a man inside the house who had suffered burns. “While they were starting to attack the fire, they did find a resident of the house who, unfortunately, had experienced some burns,” Nelson said. Crews paused their firefighting efforts to provide emergency treatment to the resident.
The injured man, estimated to be around 65 years old, was transported to a nearby hospital. A firefighter also received medical care for minor injuries and was taken to the hospital for observation.
Chief Nelson explained that the combination of freezing weather and clutter inside the house made firefighting challenging. The home contained heavy personal belongings that blocked hallways and rooms. “The conditions that they found inside were a lot of heavy personal belongings, clogging hallways and rooms, making advancing hose lines very, very difficult and making conditions very unsafe to be inside,” Nelson said.
Crews faced high heat, thick smoke, and very low visibility, which forced them to retreat from the interior of the home at times.
Firefighters from eight neighboring communities joined Reading crews to help battle the blaze. Their combined efforts were essential in containing the fire and preventing further injuries.
Two residents of the home were displaced due to fire damage. Authorities are coordinating to ensure they have temporary housing and support while the home is repaired.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Reading police and fire departments are working alongside the State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit, which operates under the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Officials have not yet released details on what may have started the fire.
Authorities are urging residents to take fire safety precautions, especially during the winter months when heating systems are in heavy use, and homes may contain more combustible materials.
The Reading, Massachusetts, fire highlights the dangers firefighters face and the importance of safety measures inside homes. Officials continue to monitor the situation and will provide updates as the investigation progresses.