Reading Fire Hospitalizes 2, Leaves 15 Homeless

READING, MA — Two people were hospitalized following a four-alarm fire at an apartment building in Reading Monday morning. Crews were called to the scene on High Street around 3:30 a.m. and found flames coming from a third-floor apartment in the back of the building, officials said.

Two people were pulled from the apartment with serious injuries. They were given aid at the scene and taken to Lahey Hospital and Medical Center. They were later transferred to a Boston hospital in serious condition, fire officials said.

The remaining 11 units were evacuated. No one else was injured.

The fire displaced 15 people, fire officials said. The American Red Cross, Salvation Army and building ownership are working to provide them with temporary housing.

Fire crews from Woburn, Stoneham, Wakefield, North Reading, Wilmington, Burlington, Lynnfield, Andover, Saugus, Winchester and Lawrence assisted at the scene. The Lynn, Medford and Lexington Fire Departments provided station coverage in Reading during the fire.

"The crews who responded did an excellent job working together to evacuate numerous apartments safely, extinguish the flames and provide aid to the injured on scene," Chief Gregory Burns said in a statement.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.