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Flames Rip Through Somerville Home On Frigid Night

SOMERVILLE (CBS) – Residents were forced into the cold when flames ripped through a multi-family Somerville home overnight as temperatures dropped into the teens.

Flames shot through the roof of the Connecticut Ave. home early Friday morning.

The fire started on the back side of the building on the third floor.

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Flames rip through a multi-family Somerville home. (WBZ-TV)

Responding firefighters found that everyone had gotten out safely.

A neighbor captured cell phone video that showed that flames gutting the home.

"It was wild. I've never seen that in my life," she said. "You could feel it. My room was hot. I woke up all my roommates, a cop rang our doorbell and made us leave."

Many residents stood in the freezing cold, watching the building burn.

Concerned that flames could spread to homes next door, Somerville firefighters called for backup.

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Firefighters on scene of a fire in Somerville. (WBZ-TV)

About 35-40 firefighters knocked down the blaze. Two suffered minor injuries.

The fire chief said there was heavy fire damage on the third floor, fire damage on the second floor, and water damage throughout.

Damage is estimated at about $750,000.

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Daylight revealed damage from a Somerville house fire. (Image Credit: Anna Meiler/WBZ-TV)

In total, five adults and two children were displaced.

The fire has been ruled accidental, though the exact cause is under investigation.

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