Fire Tears Through Multi-Family Home In Quincy
QUINCY (CBS) -- Firefighters were battling a massive fire at a home on Winthrop Street in Quincy Friday afternoon. A video of the fire when it first broke out shows flames coming from the second floor and quickly spreading to the top floor.
Emergency responders are crediting the first firefighters who arrived and quickly called for backup. They knew with the wind, one house fire had the potential to spread to others fast.
"The smoke was terrible," said neighbor Patti Nichol. "The house went up so fast."
When Quincy firefighters pulled up to the home, flames were already tearing through the second and third floors of the multi-family home. All who live there were already outside.
"I saw the mother was coming out with a little boy wrapped in a blanket," Nichol said. "The husband was behind her. The grandfather that lives on the third floor had his two dogs and he was there."
Firefighters were told there could be ammunition inside the building and called their crews outside.
"With the asphalt siding and the wind condition, it took off pretty quick," said Quincy Fire Captain Steven Baylis. "The guys did a good job. We protected the house next to it and pretty much put the fire out from the outside."
A man suffered burns to his hands and was taken to Mass General. Investigators are looking into whether someone had been handling some type of battery before the fire began.
"It's a miracle. What those firefighters did," Nichol said. "You can replace houses but not people. It's just a lousy time of year. Anytime is a lousy time of year but this is awful."
Firefighters say the house is destroyed and they expect some water damage to the one next door. On social media Good Samaritans are already organizing donations for the victims - including an elderly man and young child.
