Deputy Chief Jim Lucia directs operations at a Second Alarm fire at 81 Mt. Vernon Street on January 23rd. – Courtesy of Somerville Fire Department.

A two-alarm fire heavily damaged a two-family home at 81 Mt. Vernon St. Thursday, Jan. 23, leaving it uninhabitable for its seven occupants.

The fire was reported by a tenant on  the third floor of the two-and-a-half-story home who heard the fire alarms go off and then  saw smoke. He was able to safely exit the building. The first alarm was sounded  at 9:26 a.m. followed soon after by a second alarm. Firefighters arrived to find  heavy fire conditions issuing from several first-floor windows.

Lt. Tom Tierney opens up the roof at 81 Mt. Vernon Street to get ahead of fire spreading in the roof area.

All Somerville  apparatus responded along with additional companies from Boston and Cambridge Damage is estimated to be in excess of $100,000. The fire is presently  under investigation but is not deemed to be suspicious.