CHELSEA, MASS. (WHDH) - A massive, wind-driven fire that broke out Wednesday in Chelsea left two triple-decker homes heavily damaged and displaced more than a dozen people.
The fire on John Street, which was first reported about 4 p.m., sent a huge plume of smoke into the air that could be seen from miles away. Visibility in the area was very low as firefighters worked to contain the fast-moving flames.
Video recorded at the scene showed the fire quickly engulfing the back of one building before spreading to a second.
A third-floor resident told 7News he initially thought the smoke was from a grill but rushed to rescue his family when he noticed the building going up in flames.
“My father kind of disappeared, so I went to go look for him,” Domingos Gomes said. “He made it out OK.”
More than 100 firefighters responded to the scene and several were hurt, officials said. Their injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.
After the fire was extinguished, residents said they were shocked by how quickly the inferno spread.
“I’m in disbelief. You never think that it’s going to happen to you,” resident Ledizia Freitas said. “I don’t know what we’re going to do.”
Many surrounding streets were shut down due to the large response and dangerous conditions.
The state fire marshal is investigating the cause of the blaze, which does not appear to be suspicious in nature.
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