Chelsea Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 127 Shurtleff St. at 4:38 p.m. on May 19. Heavy fire was visible from the 3rd floor when firefighters arrived, with exposure buildings situated closely on both sides. Deputy Chief Robert Houghton declared a working fire and activated the second alarm. The flames rapidly advanced to the 3rd floor porch and cockloft area.
An aggressive firefighting effort was launched, leading Deputy Chief Houghton to strike a third alarm to bring in additional personnel. Building searches yielded no occupants inside, as residents had already evacuated themselves. No civilians were hurt in the incident. Three firefighters sustained injuries while fighting the fire, though none were considered life-threatening. A total of 16 occupants were displaced and received assistance from the Red Cross.
The fire remained confined to the third floor of the building where it started, and the neighboring structures were spared any damage. Investigators determined the fire’s origin to be electrical in nature. The ignition source involved an air conditioning unit being powered through multiple extension cords.
“Residents should be aware of the dangers associated with powering air condition units and appliances with extension cords. This creates an extreme fire hazard” said Chief Len Albanese. “Overloaded extension cords are the cause of many accidental fires that can be avoided using proper fire safety precautions.”
Major flames erupted from this fire at a home on Shurtleff Street May 19.