Three Fall River Families Displaced in Fire

FALL RIVER — Three families — including five children — have been displaced in a fire in Fall River early Monday morning, according to the city's fire department.

Deputy Fire Chief Roger St. Martin said that firefighters were called to what later became a two-alarm fire at 284 Manchester St. just before 2 a.m. on Monday.

The first engine arrived within three minutes, with crews reporting smoke coming from the right side and rear of the three-apartment building.

All 12 residents were safely evacuated — including one dog and two cats — when crews from three fire engines, two ladder trucks, and a heavy rescue team arrived.

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They found flames in the second floor ceiling extending up to the attic space, but managed to put out the main part of the fire within an hour, according to St. Martin.

The last units left the scene at 4:47 a.m.

No injuries were reported in the blaze.

St. Martin said investigators found the cause of the fire was electrical, likely from a ceiling light in a second floor bedroom.

Damage to the structure was estimated at $100,000, while the value of the contents lost was around $50,000, St. Martin said.

The seven adults and five children displaced are currently staying at a hotel.