LISTEN: 911 Call Details North Reading House Fire Rescue

NORTH READING, MA — Audio of the 9-1-1 call and dispatcher recordings of a fire rescue on Tuesday morning was released. In the audio, you can hear the off-duty police sergeant who rescued the residents talking North Reading dispatchers and first responders through his actions so that they could respond accordingly when they arrived.

Early Tuesday morning, North Reading Police Sgt. Thomas Encarnacao had just finished his shift and was on his way home when he noticed flames coming from the side of the house at 30 Lowell Road. He radioed to North Reading dispatch his location and informed them that there were flames coming from the home.

The recording can be found here.

Sgt. Encarnacao got into the home to alert the residents. He was able to locate a man who was sleeping on a couch at the front of the house, and helped him outside to safety.

North Reading Police Officers Nick Amirault and Sean Lawson also arrived on the scene to assist. The man told officers that there was another resident in the basement of the home. The officers were able to find a bulkhead door and get inside. They alerted the second resident but couldn't immediately find him. The man eventually made his way upstairs and out the front door.

The North Reading Fire Department arrived when officers were bringing the second resident outside and found heavy fire on the left side of the house. The two residents told firefighters that a 13-year-old boy was sleeping in the back bedroom of the home.

First responders removed a window screen in the bedroom and found the boy standing by the window in a smoke-filled room. Officers and firefighters pulled the boy out through the window to safety.

All three residents were evaluated by EMS at the scene, but refused to be taken to the hospital. No firefighters were injured. One officer suffered a cut to his hand while attempting to breach a basement window.

The fire was put out by 3:30 a.m.

The house sustained smoke, fire and water damage. The three residents were displaced and are being helped by family members.

"The work of the three officers this morning was truly courageous, and I am incredibly proud of them," Police Chief Michael Murphy said. "Sgt. Encarnacao took decisive and immediate action, which very likely saved the lives of the residents inside the house. Once he got the first resident out, all three officers went back into the house, without protective gear, to look for additional residents. Their actions to get all of the residents out safely was truly heroic."

"We are proud to work closely with the North Reading Police Department, and this is an example of how our departments work together to serve our community and save lives," Fire Chief Don Stats said. "We are thankful that Sgt. Encarnacao was in the right place at the right time, and was able to use those extra minutes that he was on the scene to alert the residents and assist in getting them out. Just a few minutes can make the difference in a fire, and I have no doubt that his efforts were lifesaving."

This fire was the third one in the last month that North Reading Police and Fire have responded to. In all three cases, functioning smoke alarms were a common theme that potentially saved lives. The North Reading Fire Department is reminding residents of the critical importance of ensuring smoke alarms are working, and always investigating when they sound unexpectedly.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.