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Residents seen jumping out of windows to escape deadly fire at New Bedford rooming house

rooming house fire new bedford ma

Of the two victims, one has been identified by the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office as 59-year-old Manuel Moreira, who lived on the fourth floor of the building. The other victim, who was found during excavation efforts on Wednesday, remains unidentified, the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services said in a press release. A deadly fire at a New Bedford rooming house Tuesday started accidentally, likely caused by a microwave or wall outlet, fire officials said Friday. The mayor and the fire chief stressed that, despite the barriers, the city would continue efforts to enforce fire code regulations in New Bedford’s rooming houses. The fire department closed its investigation last week after determining the fire likely started with a microwave, or the microwave’s wall outlet, on the building’s second floor. The lack of compliance with “sprinkler law” is a widespread issue in New Bedford’s rooming houses.

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Their body was found after investigators used heavy equipment to sort through debris and remove parts of the building, which partially collapsed. Authorities identified the man who died as Manuel Moreira, 59, who lived on the top floor of the four-story building, according to Bristol District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III’s office. A second victim was recovered Wednesday from the rubble of a rooming house in New Bedford, where a massive fire the day before caused “catastrophic damage,” according to the state fire marshal’s office. Kruger said firefighters rescued at least three residents before they were forced to retreat as conditions worsened. More than two dozen tenants lived in the rooming house, according to Kruger.

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The Red Cross, Salvation Army and Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency are among the group supporting local efforts. The Fire Department was focused Wednesday on recovering any fatalities and quickly demolishing the unstable building. State police dogs worked the ground while drones hovered overhead to assist the demolition. "Anytime you can have a sprinkler system in the building, it's always better than having a building with no sprinkler system in it obviously," said New Bedford Fire Chief Scott Kruger. This breaking news story will be updated as more information becomes available.

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Amaral said the city has connected those impacted with local agencies to assist them in their search for a new place to live. Josh Amaral, New Bedford’s director of housing and community development, told 12 News the city is doing everything in its power to help those impacted by the fire. Matos said her fiancé has been having recurring nightmares of escaping the flames, adding that he did everything in his power to get as many tenants to safety as he could.

When Sky5 flew over the four-story building Tuesday afternoon, firefighters were dousing the building with water from all sides. The water was pouring out from doors on the ground floor, but flames and heavy smoke continued. On Tuesday afternoon, he said at least five people were transported to the hospital, some with serious conditions.

Deadly Fire at New Bedford Rooming House Was an Accident, Investigators Find - NBC Boston

Deadly Fire at New Bedford Rooming House Was an Accident, Investigators Find.

Posted: Fri, 31 Mar 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

The investigation into the cause of the fire continued Wednesday, as community members step in to help the residents displaced. A second body was found by firefighters combing through the rooming house partially destroyed in a massive fire in New Bedford, Massachusetts, fire officials said Wednesday. The size of the building and fire conditions made it difficult for first responders to determine who needed to be rescued first.

rooming house fire new bedford ma

"The Fire Prevention Bureau is continuing its close scrutiny of rooming houses in New Bedford, with rooming houses periodically checked for compliance with all life safety code requirements," the release reads. NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) — The investigation continues into a deadly fire that gutted a New Bedford rooming house Tuesday afternoon. ” said Phillip MacDonald, who described one of the men who died in the fire as a “good friend.” His brother also lived in the rooming house but was not home at the time of the fire. But at the time of the fire, a “board or plank” was blocking the hatch to the fire escape, Chief Kruger confirmed. The fire department discovered the structure blocking the fire escape, which he described as a fire code violation, after the fire. The mayor’s chief of staff clarified that it’s possible the property manager or a tenant had blocked the fire escape after the fire department’s most recent inspection.

Second victim found in New Bedford rooming house fire; 24 residents displaced

Kruger said firefighters rescued at least three residents, while several others leapt from their windows. An automatic sprinkler system, which is required under the city’s fire code, was not installed despite repeated warnings from the fire department ordering the property owners to install one. The city last year even threatened to revoke the license to operate as a rooming house for failing to comply with fire code. One person who lived on the third floor said that there were no sprinklers in the building at the time of the fire. A family member of one resident said that the hatch to the fire escape ladder was locked, forcing some to jump from the second-story wooden balcony. Fire investigators said the fire started in Room 205, located at the left rear of the second floor.

An engine company remained on scene to standby while a demolition contractor removed the remaining collapsed portions of the building and secured the area. One firefighter was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital for evaluation but is expected to be released Saturday, the fire department said. NBC affiliate WJAR reports he was suffering from dehydration and heat exhaustion. Shortly after a collapse zone was set up, the main building suffered a complete collapse, fire officials said.

The Red Cross and Salvation Army Disaster Team were seen Tuesday night helping out residents, the station reported. The building was a 31-unit rooming house, with each unit locking individually and each floor sharing a common bathroom, according to residents. One of the victims was identified as 59-year-old Manual Moreira, who lived on the fourth floor. New Bedford fire Chief Scott Kruger said Tuesday afternoon that the first firefighters to arrive rescued several people from the windows of the building. “It’s hard because you have to try and account for all the people — the residents that are supposed to live there, people that had been in that building during the day visiting or just there and they’re not on paper.

The second victim, who has not been identified, was found Wednesday afternoon as firefighters demolished the building piece by piece, according to Kruger. Residents were seen jumping out of second-story windows to escape the blaze last week as firefighters arrived on scene. Some who lost loved ones said they felt like the deaths could have been avoided. A general alarm was declared, bringing all New Bedford apparatus and off-duty personnel to the scene along with dozens of firefighters from surrounding communities.

Crews started their search with drones Wednesday morning and began the process of demolishing the building. “The alarm kept going off, and I tried to make it out of my room but all I saw was smoke. I tried to make it down those stairs, but I couldn’t,” said Jason Gilmore, who lived in the building. MacFarlane said they work with families all the time that have been displaced whether they need clothing, food or other assistance or even just somebody to listen for emotional spiritual care. Due to their familiarity with the facility and the team in New Bedford, and knowing some of the people there, they were also able to offer emotional and spiritual care.

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