Fire Rips Through New Bedford Triple Deckers

At least two triple deckers in the North End of New Bedford caught fire this morning and an hour later crews were still actively battling the blaze.

The initial call came in around 8 a.m. A third alarm sounded at 8:36 a.m. At the third alarm, structures at 317 North Front St. and 50 Tallman St. were fully involved, and a third structure on North Front Street appeared to scorched. By 10:30 a.m. the fire appeared to be under control, witnesses said.

Multiple city fire companies responded, with mutual aid arriving from surrounding communities to cover city fire stations. Providence Canteen arrived to provide food and drink for the firefighters.

Acushnet Avenue was blocked to traffic and fire hoses were stretched along neighboring streets. People were asked to avoid the area.

One of the damaged apartment buildings has a former bar called The Pub on the first floor. The bar has been closed for several years.

It's the second major fire in New Bedford in less than 12 hours. Overnight a woman was rescued from a burning two-family home on Ashley Boulevard and rushed to the hospital. A dog reportedly died in that fire, called in at around 12:30 a.m.