Overview
- The fire was reported around 5:30 p.m. at a home near James and Sherwood roads and was contained to that single address.
- A resident about 65 years old suffered burn injuries and was taken to a hospital, and a firefighter was also hospitalized with injuries described as non-life-threatening.
- Interior crews were pulled after encountering heavy clutter, high heat and dense smoke, and firefighters continued the attack from outside for safety.
- Mutual aid from nearby departments, including Woburn, Stoneham, Burlington and North Reading, supported the three-alarm response.
- Two residents were displaced, and investigators from Reading and the State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit are probing the origin as crews watch for flare-ups in freezing conditions.