Fire Rips Through North End New Bedford Tenament

Fire broke out at about 1:30 Thursday morning in a 3-story tenement building at 364 North Front Street in the north end of New Bedford.   Thick smoke filled the neighborhood and flames could be seen shooting from the side of the building.

District Fire Chief Robert Frates told us that the fire spread through the walls from the first floor up through the structure and eventually reached the roof.   Fire fighters were rotated in and out of the building because of extreme heat.  At one point during the night, some fire fighters were seen lying on the street to stay cool.

Two adults and eight children were living in the building, but all got out without being injured.