Eric Smith, Fire Chief
8 School St.
Gloucester, MA 01930
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Gloucester Fire Department Battles Second Working Fire of the Day
Two Families Displaced, Bringing total to Five Families Left Out of their Homes after Two Multi-Family House Fires Wednesday
GLOUCESTER — Chief Eric Smith reports that the Gloucester Fire Department battled a fire inside a multi-family home on Wednesday evening in the second such fire of the day for the City of Gloucester.
Firefighters responded to 37 Sargent St. at 6:50 p.m. for a reported building fire. Upon arrival, fire companies were able to locate fire hidden inside a wall. The wall was opened, and firefighters were able to extinguish the flames.
No one was injured, and Gloucester Fire Department investigators determined that the fire was most likely electrical in nature.
Two families were displaced and will not be able to return home Wednesday. The American Red Cross is assisting the families and their pets in finding temporary accommodations.
This was the second fire in a multi-family building Wednesday, bringing the total number of families displaced by fire in Gloucester to five for the day. At 2 a.m., the Gloucester Fire Department responded to 34 School St. on a report of a house fire. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy smoke and fire in the first floor living room in the unit. Three families were displaced in that fire.
Thanks to the rapid response of firefighters and their aggressive work in locating and extinguishing the fires at their sources, both buildings can be repaired, according to Chief Smith, who wishes to acknowledge the professionalism and dedication of all the firefighters from two shifts who responded to these fires.
###