1 dead, many displaced after 3-alarm fire in Chelsea

CHELSEA, Mass. — Update: Chelsea Fire Department Chief Leonard A. Albanese confirmed that a resident who was transported to the hospital Friday night died. He also confirmed no other injuries or deaths.

Original: Fire ripped through the roof of a Chelsea multi-family on Friday, displacing 10 adults and three children, officials said.

Sky 25 was overhead and captured flames pouring from the upstairs windows.

Giovanni Recupero saw them as the fire climbed up toward the roof.

“It was huge man, coming out of the roof, out of the windows. It was just ugly,” he said.

The 3-alarm blaze drew firefighters from a dozen towns, with some of them helping to rescue a Chelsea firefighter who trapped on the roof.

Chelsea Deputy Fire Chief John Quatieri told Boston 25 News the firefighter got disoriented.

“He was unable to make his way back to the bucket. He did transmit a mayday,” Quatiere said.

That brought fire crews from Everett and Revere to the rescue.

“They were able to go up to the aerial, they were able to get him to the bucket and safely down,” Quatieri said.

One neighbor who declined to give her name said the owner tried to douse the flames with a garden hose.

“Fire shot out of the front window and then started coming out every window,” the woman said.

That’s when she said the owner fell to the ground. Quatieri said he suffered a heart attack.

“Went into cardiac arrest. We had a paramedic team on scene and immediately started treating that victim," Quatieri said. The homeowner was rushed to the hospital.

“Fire extended up the side of the building and made its way to the attic,” Quatieri said.

He said flames started on the porch, climbed up and shot across the attic.

“Once it got into the attic, it took off. It ran from the front of the building, all the way to the back,” he said.

Quatieri said that everyone who lives here got out safely. But for neighbors, seeing this house go up in flames was tough in this close-knit neighborhood.

“It’s rough seeing a childhood friend’s home go up like that,” one neighbor said.

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