One Dead in Early Morning Revere Fire
Update, 12:57 p.m.:
One person is confirmed dead in this morning’s fire.
The body of Dennis Toomey, who was in his 80s, was found in the rubble of the home around noon, according to The Boston Globe. Toomey was the uncle of Revere Deputy Fire Chief Chris Bright, who grew up in the Reservoir Avenue home.
Bright was able to rescue another uncle, Robert Toomey, from the building’s basement with the help of other firefighters but was unable to advance further into the building because of the intense flames.
Original story:
Flames broke out Thursday morning at a two-family home at 79 Reservoir Avenue in Revere. The fire reached three-alarms, according to multiple reports.
Firefighters dealt with frigid temperatures as they battled the blaze. Officials told NECN that some hydrants in the area were frozen and others were buried in snow.
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One hydrant was blocked by a parked truck, forcing firefighters to pump water uphill from a different hydrant, according to The Boston Herald. Two firefighters suffered minor injuries after slipping on ice.
WBZ reports that one man is missing. At one point as many as three people were unaccounted for, but two have since been located. The building’s roof also collapsed.
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Two uncles of Revere Deputy Fire Chief Chris Bright lived in the residence. Bright managed to pull one uncle, Robert Toomey, from the building’s basement but was unable to proceed further because of the intense conditions, The Boston Globe reported.
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Crews could not locate Dennis Toomey, Bright’s second uncle, who lives on the first floor. Investigators will search for him once it is safe for them to enter the building, which was a total loss, according to The Herald.
The other residents of the home are Abraham Valle, his wife, Rosalina Sanchez-Pena, and their eight-month-old daughter, who lived on the second floor, according to The Globe.
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The home is located near the McKinley School, which initially delayed opening until 9:30 a.m. but later canceled school for the day, according to the city’s Facebook page.
Residents are advised to avoid traveling in or around Broadway. NECN reports that area roads will be icy as water used to battle the fire freezes.
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Troopers from the Suffolk County State Police Detective Unit are on the scene along with Revere Police, the Revere Fire Department, and investigators from the the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal’s office.
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The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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