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1 Dead In Gloucester Apartment & Temple Fire
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WBZ/Jay Albert
One person did die in the fire. According to the building's
landlord, Bob Taylor, was killed. Taylor
was a very kind, older gentleman who lived alone in the building for about 20
years, the landlord said.
Crews attempted to rescue Taylor, but according to Gloucester Fire Chief Barry McKay, the flames were too intense.
"The gentleman was spotted in a window between the Lorraine Apartments and temple," McKay told WBZ-TV's David Robichaud. "They immediately brought a 35-foot ladder to the location and attempted rescue. They did get into the room with the gentleman but the fire was blasting so badly, two of my firefighters had to bail out under emergency conditions simply to survive."
About 30 residents live in the 20 units of the Lorraine Apartments. They were taken to City Hall and the nearby Fuller School.
"We did see an elderly couple. The woman was actually in a bathrobe and slippers ," said neighbor Amanda Leck. "Some people who lived there were obviously crying."
"Daylight brought to light just how congested this area is, and while tragically we lost a lost life, an apartment building, and a house of worship, this could have been a greater loss," said State Fire Marshal Stephan Coan.
Also destroyed by the fire was Temple Ahavat Achim, the home of worship for more than 200 North Shore families. Rabbi Samuel Barth told WBZ the temple has been a centerpiece of the region's Jewish community for more than 100 years.
"People will be heartbroken in the community, so much," said Barth, also expressing his sympathy for the gentleman who lost his life. "Our gratitude that the fatalities seem to be limited to just one person. With the apartment building next door lost, the fatalities could have been so much worse."
Major renovations at the temple had just been completed. The Unitarian church down the street will take in member of Temple Ahavat Achim.
Herb Wennerbert lives nearby and captured the scene on his video camera. He described how quickly the fire spread. "When I first got here there was just a little smoke, hardly anything showing. Five, ten minutes later flames were showing."
The fire threatened the library next door and several other nearby buildings. Firefighters remained on scene trying contain the flames early Saturday.
Staring at what remained in the daylight, tenant Joe Sarofeen marveled at how quickly he had to escape.
"Just a little scary how fast the smoke went. There wasn't anything when I checked minutes before and all of a sudden you can't see through it. So I just reacted and ran through it and left everything behind."
Fire officials said the cold and wind were a hindrance. Three firefighters were injured when they slipped on the ice. But the snow that had piled on roofs proved a blessing because it extinguished embers that rained down during the blaze.
A fund has been set up to help the victims of the Gloucester fire.
The Gloucester Fund
45 Middle Street
Gloucester, MA 01930
978-490-0001
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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