Two families displaced after fire destroys Lynn apartment building
LYNN - Two families are displaced after a fire at a home on Allerton Street in Lynn Tuesday afternoon. Part of the roof collapsed as the flames shot through the roof of the home.
"It was so quick. The roof was up in flames in a matter of minutes," said neighbor Olga Baranenko.
A Lynn police officer on his way home from work saw the smoke and flames, pulled over and rescued people from the fire. The officer was taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.
Firefighters worked in the heat, rotating their crews quickly for safety. Then there were concerns about the building's chimney beginning to lean.
"As soon as the roof came down, we started pulling our guys out because it was too dangerous to fight the fire inside," said Lynn Deputy Fire Chief Michael McBride.
There were some early issues with the water supply, but crews were able to keep the fire contained to the one structure.
The cause of the fire is unknown, but it appears to have started on the first floor.
All eight people who live in the two-family home got out safely. McBride said two people were checked out by EMS for minor injuries.
"There was a really nice firefighter who came over because they saw the kids were crying," Baranenko said. "They came over to say we're safe out here and everything is OK and taken care of. It calmed the kids down a little bit."
The Red Cross and Salvation Army are assisting the families affected by the fire.
