A woman who was pulled to safety by Firefighter Miguel Acosta and other members of Engine 2 last Saturday is wheeled to an ambulance after a fire broke out early at 160 Broadway.
The woman had been trapped in a rear bedroom on the third floor. Firefighters had to fight through heavy flames to get to her.
At 160 Broadway, intense flames consumed the third floor while a person remained trapped inside.
As Chelsea firefighters battled back the blaze, Firefighter Miguel Acosta swept his hands across the floor and discovered what appeared to be a soot-covered limb. After grasping it, he extracted the trapped woman from danger with assistance from Tower 1’s crew.
According to Acosta, “fblikebutton_button” “wp-caption alignright” “wp-caption-text” “I felt what I thought was an arm but it was her leg. Then I dragged her out of the room with the help of Tower 1’s crew.”
Tower 1’s crew lowered the woman from the third floor and transported her to MGH Boston, where hospital reports indicated she remained in stable condition with expectations for full recovery.
Saturday, Feb. 7, at 5:58 a.m. marked the dispatch of Chelsea firefighters to 160 Broadway following a building fire report. Engine 2 from Central Fire Station arrived first and confirmed an active fire.
Upon arrival, Deputy Chief Robert Zalewski observed flames on the top floor. Chelsea Police officers communicated that an occupant was trapped on the third floor.
Tower Ladder 1’s crew moved quickly into the structure and advanced to the 3rd floor to search for the trapped occupant. Engine 2’s crew simultaneously extended a hose line into the building and reached the third floor.
As Engine 2’s crew began suppressing the fire upon reaching the third floor, they pushed the flames back sufficiently for a search operation to begin. Within moments, Firefighter Acosta located the occupant in a rear bedroom.
Extinguishing the fire required more than an hour of effort by crews on scene. Everett Engine 2 and Revere Ladder 2 responded as the Rapid Intervention Team.
In front of the building, one Chelsea Firefighter sustained a broken arm after slipping on ice.
While Central Fire Station was covered by Boston Engine 5 and Boston Ladder 21, Somerville Engine 2 provided coverage to the Mill Hill Station.
According to the Chelsea Fire Investigation Unit, careless disposal of a cigarette caused the fire.
Building damage reached an estimated $75,000.