Explosions, Five Alarms At Needham House Fire

NEEDHAM (CBS) - A five-alarm house fire sent smoke and flames into the sky and spread into a nearby marsh on Brookside Road in Needham.

The exact cause of the fire isn't known yet, but neighbors said they hear explosions.

"It was just explosions … loud … pop-boom-boom-boom and then just the mushrooms of black smoke and then the orange fire," said neighbor Katherine Chan.

Propane tanks may have caused the explosions.

"There's a marsh or a bog back there and then that had started to catch fire and was very quickly spreading behind a number of these homes and really kind of threatening them. So there were some evacuations of additional homes," said neighbor Evan Saks.

Needham Fire Chief Dennis Condon said there appeared to be junk and trash burning up against the house and the fire moved on to the house.

"The house is a loss at this point," said Needham Fire Chief Dennis Condon, adding that the roof had collapsed.

"I do know they have a couple of kids and my daughter plays with them and they go to school together, so I'm just hoping their OK," said neighbor Jamie DaFrota.

A firefighter sustained an eye injury, which was treated at the scene. He was then released back to active duty. The family was not home at the time of the fire.

Area towns responded with mutual aid, including Boston, Wellesley, Dedham, Norwood, Brookline, Quincy, Newton, Cambridge, Westwood and Weston.

In:
• Needham News