Melrose Firefighters Battle Mattress Fire, Save Dogs on East Street

Melrose firefighters rescued two dogs and knocked down a mattress fire in an East Street apartment Wednesday evening. No one was injured in the ordeal.

Firefighters were able to keep the fire contained in its originating room, according to Fire Prevention Captain Ed Collina.

“It was basically a room and contents fire,” he said. “Engine Three’s Lt. Dermott Madden and Firefighter Chris Walsh advanced the attack line through the front door to the apartment to exterminate a mattress on fire and the extension [of the fire] to the walls.”

No one was injured during the fire, according to Collina. The residents of the damaged apartment told firefighters that they believed their dog was still in the building.

“The crew from the rescue unit found heavy smoke conditions on floor two,” Collina said. “They searched the second-floor apartment and found two dogs hiding under the bed.”

While fire damage was contained to one room on the first floor, the rest of the apartment was damaged from smoke and water, according to Collina. He said the building inspector deemed the other four apartments habitable. The residents of the damaged apartment stayed with a nearby family member, Collina said.

The department determined that the fire was started accidentally and did not involve cigarettes, Collina said.