Blaze Ravages Market Street

A fire ravaged a four-story house on Market Street in East Cambridge yesterday afternoon, displacing approximately 70 residents, according to Cambridge Fire Department officials.

Captain Gerald Reardon said firefighters rescued 15 people from the fire that consumed more than 12 apartments.

Six residents were sent to Cambridge Hospital for minor smoke inhalation, cuts and burns. None of the inhabitants suffered any serious injuries or fatalities, according to Reardon.

The house was occupied primarily by recent Haitian and Salvadorian immigrants, said Ben Gedaminski, a Red Cross representative who is leading the relief effort.

Commenting on the prospects of the displaced residents for finding housing, Gedaminski said, "[Recent] immigrants usually don't have many nearby friends or family members to rely on. That seems to be the case here."

The Red Cross is providing bedding and temporary housing for the victims at the Psiani Center in East Cambridge, and has enlisted. the support of community organizations.

"We've already called the tenant association tohelp these people find comparatively pricedhousing nearby and have started assessing theirother needs." Gedaminski said. "That's our firstpriority right now."

"In the meantime, we're providing them withshelter and food here at Psiani," he added.

Fire Captain Reardon said the fire broke outaround 2:45 p.m. "We were on the scene about twominutes later," Reardon said.

"It started from a stove on the first floor andforced its way up the back of the building toconsume apartments at the front end of the house,"he said. "Most of the apartments were completelygutted."

Battling gusting winds, firefighters tookalmost two hours to put out the blaze. Manyresidents in the building at the start of thefire were completely unaware of its existenceuntil firefighters arrived.

"It was funny--most of us heard the alarm, butthose things are always blaring around here, so wemade nothing of it," said a resident.

Outside the gutted apartment building, twovictims said they and other displaced residentswere lamenting the destruction of their property.

"We lost everything. All we have are theclothes on our back," said Carlos Ulloa, a nativeof EI Salvador.

"I'm just glad everybody got out safely," saida Haitian immigrant. "My family is OK. That's allI care about.

"We've already called the tenant association tohelp these people find comparatively pricedhousing nearby and have started assessing theirother needs." Gedaminski said. "That's our firstpriority right now."

"In the meantime, we're providing them withshelter and food here at Psiani," he added.

Fire Captain Reardon said the fire broke outaround 2:45 p.m. "We were on the scene about twominutes later," Reardon said.

"It started from a stove on the first floor andforced its way up the back of the building toconsume apartments at the front end of the house,"he said. "Most of the apartments were completelygutted."

Battling gusting winds, firefighters tookalmost two hours to put out the blaze. Manyresidents in the building at the start of thefire were completely unaware of its existenceuntil firefighters arrived.

"It was funny--most of us heard the alarm, butthose things are always blaring around here, so wemade nothing of it," said a resident.

Outside the gutted apartment building, twovictims said they and other displaced residentswere lamenting the destruction of their property.

"We lost everything. All we have are theclothes on our back," said Carlos Ulloa, a nativeof EI Salvador.

"I'm just glad everybody got out safely," saida Haitian immigrant. "My family is OK. That's allI care about.