At least 12 people displaced after fire destroys Whitman home

WHITMAN, Mass. — Six families were displaced after a massive fire at a multi-family house in Whitman on Wednesday night.

Firefighters were battling the blaze on Commercial Street into the night after receiving a report of a building fire at 7:45 p.m.

Heavy flames and smoke were seen billowing from the large white building.

The fire, which could be seen from the second-story window, quickly spread to the third floor, simlutaneously burning the wooden deck outside the window.

The quick-moving fire went to 5 alarms by 9:30 p.m. According to Whitman Fire Chief Timothy Grenno, the fire spread so quickly due to the size of the building and its wood-frame structure.

The heaviest flames were knocked down shortly after a fifth alarm was struck, but firefighters worked well into the early hours of Thursday to put out any remaining hot spots.

While the scene has since been cleared, a Whitman Fire engine company will stand outside the house on a fire watch throughout the night.

Displaced residents were seen outside the building, with some holding their belongings, as firefighters tried to contain the fire.

At least 12 residents are being assisted by the American Red Cross.

Chief Grenno said the building was a total loss and, including personal possessions, estimates the damage to be totaled upwards of $1 million.

More than 15 local fire departments and about 80 firefighters helped extinguish the massive blaze.

Firefighters from the following communities responded to assist on the call:

Hanson, Abington, East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, Bridgewater, Rockland, Brockton, Norwell, Hanover, Halifax, Hingham, Holbrook, Randolph, Marshfield, Avon and Pembroke.

The Whitman Police Department, Whitman Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), DFS Rehabilitation Unit and Boston Sparks Association A-10 also responded to the scene.

Preliminary investigation suggests the fire started in one of the second floor apartments, but the cause of the fire remains under investigation. Fire investigators do not believe the cause of the fire was suspicious.

Chief Grenno said he did not know when the last fire inspection was done at the building but that it had previously been up to code.

“This fire spread extremely fast and I want to commend our firefighters and those from our surrounding communities who responded to help put this fire out as quickly as they did,” Chief Grenno said. “We are thankful that no one was hurt and that all residents were quickly able to be accounted for.”

Cox Media Group