Crews knocked down a 3-alarm fire that left 19 people without a home on a frigid Wednesday in Lawrence, Massachusetts.
Fire officials said the blaze broke out at 129 Walnut St. People were home at the time, but everyone got out safely.
The fire was reported just after 5:15 p.m. The deputy fire chief believes it started on the back porch of the third floor.
"At one point, I couldn't see far past towards the school because it was all grey and smokey," said neighbor Luisa Jimenez.
A family of seven escaped the second floor. They were outside in the frigid cold wearing blankets to keep warm.
"It was a lot of flames," said resident Stephanie Lopez. "My mom and my dad were coming down [the stairs] and one of the windows almost hit them."
John McInnis, deputy chief of the Lawrence Fire Department, said everyone made it out safely before they arrived.
U.S. & World
No occupants or firefighters were injured.
The American Red Cross of Massachusetts was helping the displaced residents.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
