18 displaced after fire engulfs multi-family home

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WPRI) – The American Red Cross is assisting 18 people after a fire engulfed a multi-family home.

The fire happened on Rodman St. in Fall River on Sunday afternoon.

Eyewitnesses said flames and black smoke were pouring out from inside the home.

According to District Fire Chief Ambrose Smith, there was a slight delay getting a water supply because two hydrants closest to the burning home weren’t working.

"It delayed getting a water supply, but it didn't delay our attack. We carry 500 gallons on the apparatus so we were able to make initial attack. It's just, it took us a little while to get a supply started," said Smith.

Smith also said a woman had to be rescued from the third floor and was rushed to the hospital. She suffered from smoke inhalation.

Everyone else was able to make it out of the triple-decker home safely.

After the fire was out, Eric Chagas, a homeowners' son was able to take a first-hand look inside the damaged building. Chagas said everything throughout the house was burnt and black.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.