New Details Released After Fire Rips Through Historic Reading Home, Barn

READING, MA — It took firefighters over 12 hours to deal with a blaze that ripped through a barn and damaged a historic home, Reading Firefighters Local 1640 said in a statement released Thursday.

A call came in to the Reading Public Safety Dispatch Center at 1:04 a.m. on Wednesday stating that the barn and home were on fire.

Firefighters arrived at the Summer Avenue address and found the "detached garage and large historic home already consumed by heavy fire," according to the firefighters union's statement.

Firefighters called in a third alarm and requested assistance from other area emergency responders.

The home was under construction and vacant at the time of the blaze.

Firefighters dealt with "high heat, thick smoke, and a temporary lack of resources during the initial response, and the inherent dangers of a structure still under construction," according to the statement.

Firefighters also had to move from inside the home to outside due to difficult conditions. The fire was not brough under control until 2 p.m.

Some firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion. There were no injuries reported.

The Reading Fire Department remained at the scene of the blaze to check for hotspots. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

"I am very proud of the hard work by all members of the Reading Fire Department and very thankful for the vital support and professionalism of all our mutual aid partners," Fire Chief Rick Nelson said.

View the full statement by clicking here.

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