Mill Hill Station firefighters in Chelsea faced back-to-back calls last Sunday, transitioning from a 3-alarm fire in Revere directly to a 2-alarm fire on Broadway.
A building fire was reported at 759 Broadway on Sunday, February 1st at 1:20 p.m., prompting a rapid response from Engine 3 and Ladder 2 from the Mill Hill Station. Upon arrival, crews observed smoke emanating from the 2nd floor. These same units had returned to the station just hours earlier after assisting Revere Fire Department with a 3-alarm fire.
Deputy Chief Robert Zalewski responded to the scene and classified the incident as a “Working Fire,” which triggered the dispatch of Chelsea Tower 1 and Chelsea Engine 1. Recognizing the severity of the fire as it spread through exterior walls of the occupied six-unit building, Deputy Zalewski promptly called for a 2nd Alarm.
Operations were hampered when a pickup truck parked near a Broadway fire hydrant prevented Engine 3 from accessing water supplies promptly.
Firefighters spent over an hour bringing the fire under control. The Red Cross assisted in relocating all 6 families who were displaced from their units. There were no injuries to any residents.
Mutual aid resources arrived from Everett, Revere, Malden, Winthrop, Somerville, and Medford to support Chelsea’s firefighting efforts. Boston Engine 5 and Boston Ladder 21 provided coverage at Central Station, while Somerville Engine 2 covered the Mill Hill Station.
Investigators are currently examining the cause of the fire.