By AARON CURTIS
There were no injuries during the early morning fire caused by an ‘electrical failure’
A one-alarm house fire in Highlands early on Saturday morning forced the displacement of 14 people including children.
Lowell’s Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Roth confirmed that no injuries were reported during the fire, which was caused by an “electrical malfunction” on a ceiling in a room.
The fire was reported at 30/32 Waite Street just before five o’clock in the morning. Roth stated that the residents of the building were able evacuate themselves before the firefighters arrived.
The crews began to attack the fires inside the building. Roth said that firefighters had been able to put out the fire within 20 minutes after their arrival.
Water damage affected much of the building, but the fire was confined to the bedroom and attic.
Roth added that “the damage in the house can certainly be repaired” because of the damaged electrical system.
Kendra Santiago who lived at 32 Waite Street with her three children said that she had called the Lowell Fire Department several times before the fire.
Santiago said that it began late on Friday evening when the heating system in the attic stopped working. Santiago was home with her children and some family visiting from out of town.
Santiago said that she had only moved into her apartment a few weeks before and was unable contact the landlord regarding the heating issue. Then, she noticed “a funny smell” coming from her bedroom upstairs, which was described by Santiago as “sweet, like yogurt.”
Santiago contacted the Lowell Fire Department. She stated that they checked out the house and the levels of carbon monoxide before telling her it was fine. Santiago said that around 3:30 am on Saturday morning, the carbon dioxide detector went off.
The Lowell Fire Department responded again to the apartment. Santiago reported that after less than one hour of investigating, firefighters told her there was a drop in carbon monoxide and she could return to the apartment as long as it had been ventilated.
Santiago: “I called 911 less than 20 minutes after I saw the fire,” he said.
Santiago confirmed that she, her children and their mother are staying with her at the home of her mother in New Hampshire. Her belongings, she said, were badly damaged in the accident.
Around 3:45 pm on Saturday afternoon, smoke was still permeating the air around the Waite Street home. The water that was used earlier to put out the fires now sits in frozen puddles next to the house.
The neighbor said that the fires caused a hole on the roof.
After the fire had been put out, the neighbor said that the residents of the two-family home could go in and grab some belongings.
The neighbor commented, “It is a shame that it’s so close to Christmas.”
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