Three-Alarm Fire on Appleton Street Destroys House

A three-alarm fire that started around 6:30 p.m. in the Arlington Heights neighborhood destroyed a large house and at least two cars in the back of the building at 100 Appleton St.

"It's a total loss," said an Arlington firefighter at the scene as early on flames were seen shooting out of the back attic window of the gray house at the corner of Appleton and Florence Avenue, a block from Massachusetts Avenue.

View a video of Arlington firefighters battling the three-alarm fire on Appleton Street on this Web page.

"I have two six-year-old twins living in there," said a person who said he is the homeowner. He would not give his name nor any additional information about the fire's cause.

What was reported initially to 911 dispatchers at approximately 6:30 p.m. as a "garage" fire spread up the back of the building, blackening the entire rear outside wall and entering into the attic. Evidence of the fire's origin and intensity were at least two vehicles parked in the back, charred by the blaze. 

Firefighters used chainsaws to cut holes into the roof to vent the smoke and apply water to the blaze.

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