Woman, dog rescued from Fall River fire

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WPRI) -- A woman and a dog were both rescued in a Monday afternoon fire in Fall River.

The two-alarm fire broke out at about 2:30 p.m. at 451 Williams Street, and flames quickly spread to a neighboring building. Firefighters say there were a total of nine units between the two buildings, though only eight were occupied. A total of 18 people have been displaced as a result of the fire.

Eyewitnesses tell us a man raced to the second floor, kicked a door in and saved a woman inside.

A firefighter was also seen retrieving a 4-year-old pit bull from the burning home. Etelka Cherry, the dog's owner, raced home from her job in Newport, anxious to find out the status of the her health.

"I just knew that my house caught on fire and that she was inside and that nobody knew where she was," said Cherry. "I was very frightened, because this is my daughter right here."

The fire is now under control, but the two multi-family homes sustained heavy damage.

Firefighters believe the fire started on the third floor and moved up into a loft. Neighbors tell us it may have been caused by children playing with matches, though the official cause remains under investigation.