12 people including children displaced after fire at Norwood triple-decker
NORWOOD - On a cold night, scorching flames shot up into the sky devouring a triple-decker in Norwood where six children and six adults called their home.
Firefighters say by the time they got to Melville Avenue, fortunately everyone was out of their homes, but the concern was keeping the fire from spreading to nearby houses. Video from SkyEye showed flames and thick smoke coming from the top floor of the building.
The home on fire was Irene Ingemi's childhood home before it was converted to multi-family units. "I feel badly for them because it looks like it's probably pretty well devastated," said Ingemi. "This was my neighborhood, it's strange."
Difficult conditions for firefighters
Help came in from Needham, Canton, Walpole, Foxboro, and Westwood to contain the fire in challenging conditions with significant damage.
"There were three full stories and then a half story on the 4th floor which made for a very difficult access for us to get up there because the fire did extend into that space," said Norwood Fire Chief Timothy Bailey.
The Red Cross was on scene working with displaced families.
Families who have been displaced waited with mixed emotions, grateful to make it out OK, but also disheartened not to have a home so close to the holidays.
Firefighters remained at the scene Monday night to battle hotspots. "Very unfortunate, very unfortunate, just glad that nobody was home to have to be rescued," said Bailey.
Fire investigators don't know how the fire started. The fire remains under investigation.
