Firefighter Injured In Church Street Blaze

Fire caused extensive damage to a three family home at 211 Church Street in New Bedford on Friday afternoon.

Firefighters responded to the scene just after 1pm and spent about two hours battling the flames and smoke.

Fire Chief Michael Gomes says one firefighter inside the building was injured when part of the structure fell and knocked off his air-mask.

Gomes described it as a "Mayday" situation, a firefighter in trouble.  According to the Chief, the firefighter and his partner were able to navigate their way out of the building, and the firefighter was taken to St. Lukes Hospital for observation.

Gomes says part of the roof collapsed and the tenament is uninhabitable.  The cause remains under investigation.

The Fire Department has contacted the Red Cross to assist the occupants.

Fire and Emergency crews were responding to a flurry of storm-related incidents at the time of the fire, so Dartmouth and Acushnet provided mutual aid to cover city fire stations.