Dog Rescued From Hersam Street Stoneham Fire

This story has been updated.

STONEHAM, MA — Stoneham Fire extinguished a major blaze at a residential building on Hersam Street Saturday.

The department rescued a dog from the fire and successfully prevented the flames from spreading to other buildings.

Everyone inside the building was accounted for. One Reading firefighter, providing mutual aid, was treated for a leg injury.

The home was deemed a total loss.

Stoneham firefighters were dispatched to 24 Hersam Street at 11:13 a.m. after 911 dispatchers received 25 separate calls reporting a fire.

Crews found heavy smoke and fire coming from the third floor of the three-story, three-family home. Firefighters immediately began searching the building, but they were pushed back by extreme heat once they reached the third floor, the department said.

Crews evacuated due to safety concerns and worked to extinguish the flames from the outside. Mutual aid was brought in from more than dozen area departments to help fight the fire and to provide station coverage.

Firefighters learned that a neighbor had alerted the third-floor residents to the fire, ensuring they could escape to safety.

"The crews who responded this morning did absolutely incredible work to determine the best approach to attacking this fire and execute on their plan in order to save lives and protect nearby properties from damage," Chief Matthew Grafton said in a statement. "I want to thank all of the firefighters from ours and other departments who answered the call today, plus Dispatchers Brian Johnson and Mike Sweeny for their calm, professional response while carrying their responsibilities."

"I also want to thank the Boston Sparks Association’s Rehab Unit, which provided invaluable support on-scene during a lengthy and challenging firefight," Grafton added.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

On-scene assistance was provided by Stoneham police as well as the Reading, Winchester, Wakefield, Melrose, North Reading, Saugus, Medford, Burlington, Wilmington, Malden and Woburn Fire Departments. The Everett, Medford and Malden Fire Departments provided station coverage. The Stoneham Department of Public Works and the Boston Sparks A-10 Rehab Unit were on the scene.

The Red Cross said it was responding to the fire which reportedly displaced eight adults and four children. The Red Cross offers financial assistance, comfort and recovery services.

Firefighters are working a 2nd alarm fire on Hersham Street. Please avoid the area if possible.
— Stoneham Fire Department (@StonehamFire) March" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/StonehamFi... 6, 2021