YARMOUTH – At 1:40 PM Yarmouth Fire Department received a call from a fire alarm company for 1100 Alewife Circle reporting the fire alarms are going off. Immediately after that call we received a 911 call from a resident in building 1200 stating the fire alarms are sounding and she can see smoke coming from unit 1218. Alewife Circle is a large multi building apartment complex, the building involved has 12 units.
Yarmouth Deputy Chief and the two Captain Fire Inspectors were first on scene. Tower 41 was directed to the common entrance on the parking lot side of the building and directed to pull a hand line and do an interior attack. Both Captain Fire Inspectors evacuated the building and helped to direct incoming crews. Yarmouth Engine 42, 45, 47 and Dennis Engine 114 responded to the scene as well as Yarmouth Ambulance 54. Yarmouth Police provide traffic control.
Water supply was slightly delayed because of a hydrant that broke when crews tried to turn it on. This happened as Dennis Engine 114 arrived on scene and they quickly changed tactics to provide water supply.
The fire was quickly extinguished and the apartment ventilated. Fire crews checked on a cat in the apartment above the fire and found it to be safe; windows were opened to help clear light smoke in this unit.
Yarmouth Fire Chaplain Chuck Soule assisted residents and contacted the Red Cross for assistance. Yarmouth Building condemned unit 1218 and Yarmouth Health Department is working with property manager to assist residents. There were no injuries.
Fire determined to be accidental, a cardboard box was placed too close to the cook top which caught on fire and quickly spread to the kitchen cabinets and other stored items. Unit 1218 sustained heavy fire and smoke damage. Unit 1218 is the only unit that could not be occupied; all other residents were allowed to return to their units.
Media release furnished by Yarmouth Fire; photos by John P. Carroll
