WAKEFIELD – Provisional Fire Chief Thomas M. Purcell reports that the Wakefield Fire Department responded Tuesday to a two-alarm fire at a home on Cooper Street.
On Tuesday, July 30, at approximately 9:50 a.m., the Wakefield Fire Department was notified by a Wakefield Police officer about a house fire at 4 Cooper St.
A box alarm was struck, and Wakefield Engine 1, Engine 2, Ladder 1 and Car 3 immediately responded to the scene. Engine 2 was first to arrive and found heavy smoke showing from the front of a 2.5-story multi-family home. All occupants were reported to be out of the building.
Firefighters from Engine 2 immediately stretched a hose line into the front door of the home and encountered heavy fire conditions and zero visibility. Firefighters discovered the home’s kitchen was fully involved in fire, which was spreading to the living room.
Firefighters from Ladder 1 extended an aerial ladder to the roof to begin ventilating the home, while Engine 1 worked to establish a water supply and stretched a second hose line into the home. Firefighters were able to knock down the bulk of the heavy fire in the kitchen.
A second alarm was struck at 10:10 a.m. to bring more manpower to the scene amid high heat and humidity.
One firefighter was treated at the scene by Cataldo Ambulance for heat exhaustion.
The fire was declared under control at 10:46 a.m.
The home suffered substantial fire, water and heat damage to the first floor and basement, and extensive smoke damage to a second-floor apartment.
All residents were displaced and are being assisted by the American Red Cross of Massachusetts.
Firefighters from Melrose, Reading, Stoneham, North Reading and Saugus provided mutual aid at the scene. Firefighters from Woburn and Lynnfield covered Wakefield stations.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Wakefield Fire Department and the Massachusetts State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit attached to the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
“I want to commend the quick actions of the first arriving companies and would like to thank our mutual aid partners for assisting in the control of the fire, preventing further damage,” said Provisional Chief Purcell.
