40 forced out of homes after fire damages Beverly apartment complex
BEVERLY - Forty people have been forced out of their homes in Beverly after a fire left extensive damage an apartment complex.
Firefighters were called to the apartments on Trask Court just after 7 p.m. Thursday after flames broke out in one of the units and started spreading. Beverly Fire Chief Peter O'Connor said it was a "stubborn" fire. It took more than ten hours to contain.
"A lot of hidden spaces in the building," O'Connor said. "(The) most important thing was to make sure everybody was out of the building, so we got into as many units as we possibly could."
The chief said no one was hurt, but one woman was rescued and taken to the hospital because she inhaled too much smoke. Two dogs and a cat died in the fire.
The Salvation Army said it was helping the 40 people with food and a temporary place to stay.
"It was hectic man, I have never seen so much damage, I mean look at it from the front, and it was all through the back," neighbor Ahmed Albadri told WBZ-TV. "I really feel bad and terrible for the people and what they have to go through now, finding new places. Forty people have to find new places, that's a lot of people. But I really hope the best for them."
Anthony Angrisano was able to escape safely along with his wife and 6-year-old daughter. Though Angrisano's daughter was worried about her Christmas presents, they were not damaged. The family will be in a hotel through the weekend.
"It's definitely a lot more damage than I saw at night. The smoke was blocking everything so you couldn't really see very much. But I will tell you, it's not good," Angrisano said. "I felt weird leaving. You kind of want to watch your ship go down."
Leslie Russel was at the complex helping her brother, who was forced out of his home.
"It's a rough 2022, let's put it behind us. Let's bring more joy and happiness and kindness into the world today," Russel said.
Michelle Tully lived just a few units away from where the fire started.
"Fire alarms went off and lots of smoke. Heavy smoke and flames they just told us to get out," she said.
There's no word yet on how the fire started.