The Somerville Fire Department responded to a reported house fire at 18 Autumn Street on Wednesday night, July 21. The fire was reported at 11:35 p.m. Arriving fire companies were met with heavy fire conditions on the second and third floors. The fire also spread into the attic space and through the roof requiring walls and ceilings to be pulled open to extinguish spreading fire as well as ventilation holes in the roof. A second alarm was sounded bringing all Somerville fire companies to the scene as well as assistance from Everett and Cambridge.

The home contains two apartments both of which were occupied at the time of the fire. All occupants were able to escape safely. Six adults and one child along with a dog and a cat have been displaced as a result of the fire. Initial reports of someone trapped on the second floor proved to be unfounded. Firefighters conducted several searches immediately after arrival which came up negative. Members of the Red Cross and Somerville Health & Human Services were on scene assisting those displaced. The second and third floors suffered extensive fire and smoke damage while the first floor and basement suffered heavy water and smoke damage. The building is currently uninhabitable. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Charles J. Breen Jr.
Somerville Fire Department
Chief Engineer