By Valerie Gomez
Two fires were reported within hours of each other in Newton on the evening of Oct. 30.
Both required the help of several nearby firefighting stations.
The first fire of the night occurred at a Nahanton Street townhouse where a resident called 911 to report a fire stemming from the fireplace.
The wooden frame of the chimney was up in flames when two engines and a ladder company arrived at the scene. There was special effort to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent townhouses, according to Wicked Local.
Lieutenant Eric Fricke of the Newton Fire Department reported no injuries at the three-alarm fire but noted significant water damage to the first floor and fire damage to the second floor of the affected house. The fire had spread to the attic as well, reported the Newton Patch.
A two-alarm fire reported on Crafts Street the same night sent a man trapped on the third floor to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in critical condition.
While all Newton fire trucks were unavailable at the time due to the three-alarm fire, firefighters from Belmont, Cambridge, Dedham and Somerville arrived to help with both fires.
Local firefighters sent help from the Nahanton Street fire to the Crafts Street fire.
Fricke said there was a large fire on the first floor and extensive damage was done to the second floor as well, according to the Newton Patch. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
A Newton firefighter with a shoulder injury and a second-floor resident with smoke inhalation were sent to Newton-Wellesley Hospital.
All injured parties have been released.
The American Red Cross and Newton Marriott provided shelter and food for the residents.
