CHELSEA, MASS. (WHDH) - 50 residents were displaced following a massive fire overnight at an apartment building in Chelsea where the roof appeared to have collapsed inwards.
Crews from surrounding communities, including Everett, Boston, Winthrop, and Cambridge, were on scene for hours working to put out the blaze, which as of 5 a.m. was under control, according to the Chelsea Fire Chief, though the scene remained very active.
The fire started around 12:30 a.m.
“Thanks to the swift and coordinated efforts of our first responders, the fire was brought under control within a few hours,” a representative from the City of Chelsea said in a statement. “The cause of the fire is now under investigation by the Chelsea Fire Department.”
Firefighters were ordered out of the building and had to fight the flames from the outside.
“I smelled the smoke and it was a really heavy smell cause of the carbon dioxide and I think thats what caused a lot of people to leave, not even the fire itself,” said Samy Legzouli, who lives in the building. “Completely honest, it was just a whole disarray of a situation. I don’t think anybody, we were all scattered, I don’t know, I just put on my shoes and ran out the house with my baby sister.”
All residents have been accounted for. Authorities are working with a nearby shelter to identify residents.
“Never have I ever seen a fire flare up so many times and so much water coming down,” said Lili Rodriguez, who evacuated. “The street was flooded, the main entrance, the water was coming down like a river and they still couldn’t put it down.”
One person was transported to the hospital with smoke inhalation. No firefighters were reported hurt.
This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.
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