Two Cats Perished in Peabody Fire

PEABODY, MA – Two cats perished in the Christmas night fire on Washington Street. One man was transported to the hospital for evaluation, but is believed to have been released.

It's unclear how many people lived in the mixed use building, which holds a now-vacant beauty salon, but Fire Chief Steve Pasdon said it could be as many as eight residents. Fire investigators are still working on a cause, but the blaze seems to have originated on the first floor.

The three-alarm fire totaled the home, making it uninhabitable. The residents self evacuated, but it was too late for the cats. Lynn, Danvers, and Salem fire departments responded to the scene of the fire. Peabody fire stations were covered by other departments.

The fire was in the 100 block of Washington Street, and struck three alarms by 9:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Scanner reports indicated that one person was taken to the hospital, but fire officials did not immediately have additional information on the victim's identity or condition. According to one report from NECN, the man was taken to the hospital simply for evaluation.

Live video from the scene shows blazing fire and thick smoke pouring from what appears to be a salon on the first floor of a four-story building.

The address is 168 Washington Street, near the three-way intersection of Foster Street, Washington and Swampscott Avenue.

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Photos via @Cassie_Cushing. Additional video here.