Reading Fire: '30-ish' Displaced, Scene Still Active Following 7-Alarm Blaze

READING, MA – Homes were destroyed, 60 residents were evacuated, and one Reading firefighter was treated at an area hospital as a result of the seven-alarm fire Thursday at the site of the former Reading High School on Sanborn Street. "30-ish" people were displaced from Schoolhouse Condominiums, the Red Cross said. The scene is still active, and fire officials will remain overnight.

No civilian injuries were reported, police spokesperson John Guilfoil said, but a Reading firefighter was transported to the hospital with a heat-related injury. Police said about 60 people have been evacuated from 41 units in the building. A number of cats and dogs have been rescued (see below if you are missing a pet.) Responders from neighboring communities, including Burlington, Malden, Wakefield, Medford, North Reading, Stoneham, Saugus, Everett, Lynnfield and Cambridge, are providing aid.

"This is a significant fire for any community to fight," said Reading Fire Chief Gregory Burns, whose crew has had to deal with a suspected pipe bomb on May 24, a Memorial Day car fire, and now a 7-alarm condo fire, all within the past 10 days. (All the more reason to subscribe to Reading Patch and like us on Facebook for more local news updates.)

Police are asking the public avoids the area as multiple roads are closed and will remain so, the Reading Police Department said. Drivers are asked to avoid the Town Hall/Route 129 area. The Congregational Church and Town Hall parking lot are open for residents of the condos. The church is feeding those displaced. Police are reminding motorists there is no left turn onto Main Street from Charles Street. (

Reading residents should take note that Town Hall is closed and all night meetings are cancelled. There may be discolored water and low water pressure due to the fire response, the town said.

One of the animals rescued was a large, long-haired white cat. The Middlesex Animal Hospital took it to the Mass. Vet Referral Hospital in Woburn because it needed an oxygen cage. The Middlesex Animal Hospital is asking if you are or know the owner, or are missing any pets from the fire, please call the hospital at 781-932-5802.

A number of pizzas have been donated by Clean Joe LLC, a disaster restoration services company that works with fire departments.

Patch will update this story.

Reporting, photos by Bob Holmes (Patch Staff)