Firefighter Injured In Brockton House Fire; Residents Safe

BROCKTON, MA — One firefighter was hospitalized after crews responded early Sunday morning to a house fire in Brockton. Residents of the home were able to escape safely.

The blaze started around 5 a.m. in the basement of the home at 129 Highland St., according to Brockton Fire Chief Brian Nardelli. Firefighters arrived at the scene to find flames shooting from the roof of the home.

The fire took "a little over an hour" for the Brockton Fire Department to get under control, according to Nardelli. The fire chief said he struck the third alarm to ensure the crew would have enough manpower.

"Once a fire gets into the walls in these old balloon-frame-constructed buildings, it takes off and has free reign of the house," Nardelli said.

One firefighter was transported to a nearby hospital to be treated for heat exhaustion, officials said. He is expected to recover.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.