Watertown firefighters take care of snow, ice as they battle blaze – NBC Boston

Flames ripped via a multifamily residence in Watertown, Massachusetts, on Tuesday afternoon.

Two individuals on the second ground of the Flint Highway residence noticed the hearth burning within the attic. They tried to place it out themselves, however needed to evacuate.

Fireplace crews arrived shortly after, however confronted obstacles because of the climate.

“The roads are slender. Clearly, there’s numerous snow on the bottom, we’re coping with snow,” stated Watertown Fireplace Chief Ryan Nicholson. “We’re additionally coping with ice points, so we had the DPW, our companions with the DPW, come unfold some sand and salt so we’re not sliding round like an ice rink out right here.”

He added that snow needed to be eliminated to permit entry to fireside hydrants.

“We wish to dig out, you are attempting to get 3 toes across the factor so we are able to simply entry it,” he stated. “We do ask the residents to assist out the place they will.”

Bree Westphal and her household noticed firefighters digging out hydrants earlier within the day, which helped crews take care of the raging fireplace.

“They had been digging the hearth hydrants out earlier this afternoon, earlier than the hearth even began,” Westphal stated. “The flames had been so excessive, they had been reaching up into the sky, and we had been considerably afraid that they may contact the timber.”

She expressed sympathy for these displaced by the hearth.

“I used to be feeling very unhealthy for the homeowners,” she stated.

No accidents had been reported within the fireplace.