By Tiffany Williams –
READING, MA. — A raging, multi-alarm house fire tore through a single-family home on James Road Wednesday evening, forcing firefighters into defensive mode as flames overwhelmed the structure and at least one burn victim was pulled from inside.
The Reading Fire Department was dispatched to 19 James Road, at the corner of Sherwood Road, just before 5:50 p.m. Crews arrived to find heavy fire showing and extreme hoarding conditions inside the home, creating dangerous and rapidly deteriorating conditions.
At 5:46 p.m., a second alarm was struck as firefighters encountered intense flames and rescued at least one victim suffering from burn injuries. The victim was removed from the building as crews battled to gain control of the fire.
By 6:08 p.m., the situation escalated to a third alarm, bringing additional companies to the scene as fire continued to spread through the residence. Command upgraded the response again minutes later as conditions worsened.
At 6:14 p.m., all companies were ordered out of the building as the fire intensified, signaling a shift to a defensive operation. Firefighters began dumping the building as flames continued to consume the structure.
Just before 7 p.m., all firefighters were ordered off the roof as flames burned through the single-family home, making interior and rooftop operations unsafe.
James Road remains closed as crews continue to battle the fire and secure the scene. Authorities are urging the public to stay away from the area while emergency operations remain ongoing.
The cause of the fire and the condition of the burn victim have not yet been released.