PETER PEREIRA/The Standard-TimesNew Bedford firefighters salvage dozens of Christmas presents after fighting a fire at an Allen Street home yesterday. The blaze caused heavy damage, displaced seven residents for the holidays and sent one person to St. Luke’s Hospital with minor injuries. Story, more photos, A3.
Fire drives 7 from home at Christmas
By BRIAN BOYD, Standard-Times staff writer
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NEW BEDFORD — Fire tore through a house stocked with holiday gifts yesterday morning, leaving five members of an extended family and a young couple without a home three days before Christmas.
A blaze gutted parts of the second and third floors of 168 Allen St. shortly after 10 a.m. Everyone in the house got out, and one person was taken to St. Luke's Hospital.
"Oh, dear Lord," a distraught Grace Ponte said as smoke and flames poured from her home.
The fire apparently was accidental and caused "heavy damage" to parts of the house, South End Fire District Chief Peter Molleo said. The cause remains under investigation.
Ms. Ponte, who was not home at the time, said her father, Manuel Telheiro, burned his hands. She added that he is resilient.
"I just want my Dad to come back and feel fine," she said. "Everything else is replaceable."
Mr. Telheiro was listed in good condition yesterday afternoon, St. Luke's spokeswoman Joyce Brennan said.
A column of smoke rose from the house and flames poured from the roof. A half hour into their battle, firefighters evacuated the house. From the outside, they concentrated a stream of water onto the roof.
District Chief Molleo said the firefighters inside were ordered to leave when the fire reached the attic. He said fire officials were concerned that the roof would collapse. Firefighters went back after a short period, and the fire soon was under control.
Family members said the fire apparently started in a second-floor walk-in closet, possibly because of a lamp.
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