Emergency personnel, fire apparatus and hoses converged on Library Street and Marlboro Street during a Tuesday morning emergency. The image above captures firefighters directing water at a burning six-family residence on Library Street, situated in one of the city’s most densely populated neighborhoods with tightly spaced homes. Around 11 a.m. on Tuesday, a fire that started in a Marlboro Street home rapidly spread to a six-family building located at 117 Library Street. Within two hours, both structures had been reduced to wrecks, with smoke billowing upward as thousands of gallons of water were continuously applied. The wind-driven flames displaced a total of 50 residents—men, women and children. According to the Chelsea Fire Department and Chelsea Police, who established a perimeter to manage hundreds of onlookers, no serious injuries were reported. The blaze originated at 102 Marlboro Street before advancing to the six-family property behind it. The Library Street building ignited within minutes, prompting residents to flee both locations. Many evacuees were observed leaving without shoes, socks, sweaters or jackets, and some appeared to be in shock. The American Red Cross responded to provide assistance to the displaced families. The city established an overnight shelter at Williams Middle School for some of those left homeless. Captain Michael Gurska of the Chelsea Fire Department sustained an apparent shoulder injury after slipping on ice. The extreme cold caused water from firefighting efforts to freeze almost immediately upon contact with the buildings and equipment. Many firefighters battling the blaze became encased in ice within their uniforms. Nine surrounding communities sent apparatus and hose to assist with the response, covering a wide area of this densely populated section of the city. By 12:30 p.m., both fires were extinguished. Fire officials are conducting an investigation into the cause. Preliminary estimates place property damage at $500,000.
Wind driven Fire Leaves 50 Homeless
