Salem Blaze Leaves More Than A Dozen Homeless

SALEM, MA — The embers were not yet cool at 12 Lynde Street in Salem Saturday afternoon when Ward 2 City Councillor Christine Madore took to social media to start rallying the community. More than a dozen people were left homeless after a four-alarm fire ripped through the apartment building Saturday morning. The Red Cross had set up in the lobby of the YMCA for the displaced tenants, but Madore was looking at the longer-term implications of the fire.

"The City is also working with [the Red Cross] to put together a community drive. Thanks for those who have already reached out to offer help," Madore wrote. "The longer term challenge would be finding permanent housing for these neighbors who have lived at 12 Lynde for many years. If you know of any leads for small apartment rentals, please do reach out at cmadore@salem.com or mayor@salem.com."

Power, which was cut to the neighborhood, was expected to be restored by 1 pm. Madore said downtown businesses would remain open for Small Business Saturday despite the power outage.

One firefighter was taken to North Shore Medical Center with minor injuries. None of the residents were injured. Officials believe the fire started in one of the first-floor units in the back of the 12-unit building.

Washington, North, and Federal Streets have been reopened. Lynde Street and the Sewall Street Parking Lot remained closed Saturday afternoon as firefighters claered the scene.

The building sustained an estimated $1 million in damage and was deemed uninhabitable.

Story by Dave Copeland, Patch

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