UPDATE: Firefighters Rescue 5 in early morning Taunton apartment building fire. All accounted for, 15 Displaced

Fire swept through a multi-unit apartment building in Taunton early Tuesday morning. (Photo Courtesy Taunton Fire Department)

UPDATE:  INITIAL INVESTIGATION POINTS TO A LITHIUM BATTERY FROM AN E-BIKE IN A HALLWAY AS THE CAUSE

Fire Chief Steven P. Lavigne reports that the Taunton Fire Department battled a significant building fire early Tuesday morning. Firefighters made five rescues, including a family of three with a small child, and all residents are accounted for at this time.

On Tuesday, Dec. 9, at about 2:30 a.m., Taunton Fire E911 received a report of a fire at 8 Hopkins Road. Taunton Police officers, on patrol in the area, arrived on scene first and reported fire showing. The officers began to assist residents as people evacuated the building.

The first arriving firefighters, including Deputy Fire Chief Matthew Arruda, began to organize an interior attack and rescue operation. Deputy Arruda called for a second alarm of response, sending additional firefighters to the scene, as the fire was significant, and temperatures had dropped into the single digits.

Firefighters entered the building to attack the fire while additional fire crews set up ground ladders. Five residents were rescued via ground ladder, and after an aggressive interior search, it was determined that all residents were accounted for.

Four of the rescued residents were transported by Brewster Ambulance Service to area hospitals. All four suffered smoke inhalation, and one of the residents suffered a hand injury.

The building did not have sprinklers, but residents were awoken by a fully functioning alarm system.

An initial investigation indicates that the fire had started in one of the apartments and spread via interior walls up to the roof, causing significant damage to the structure. About 15 residents were displaced and will not be able to re-enter the building. The displaced residents are receiving assistance, with agencies including the City of Taunton, The Salvation Army and The American Red Cross offering disaster assistance.

“This was an aggressive fire, and the severe cold creates an additional challenge for rescuers, but our Taunton firefighters, police officers and mutual aid partners did tremendous work this morning, stopping the fire and rescuing multiple residents,” Chief Lavigne said. “Our hearts go out to all the residents who cannot go back into their homes, but we know that they are receiving an outpouring of support today.”

No firefighters were injured. All Taunton Fire apparatus was engaged at the fire, and mutual aid was received at the scene by the Dighton Fire Department. Fire crews from Norton, Berkley and Rehoboth provided station coverage.

The origin and cause of the fire are under investigation by the Taunton Fire Department and Taunton Police Department.