WALTHAM, MA - The Waltham Fire Department responded to a reported building fire on Tuesday, April 1^st at 78 High Street. Companies were dispatched at 12:11 PM and on arrival at 12:13 PM, Deputy Chief Brock Rowland reported smoke showing from the third-floor and declared a working fire. Companies received reports of a resident trapped on the third-floor in the rear of the building. Ladder 2 threw a ground ladder and rescued a 77-year-old man over the ladder and brought him to safety. That resident was transported to Newton Wellesley Hospital for evaluation.

Two members of the Waltham Police Department had been in the area and were flagged down prior to Fire Department arrival. The WPD members made entry into the building and had made contact with the resident trapped on the third-floor but were pushed back by heavy smoke conditions. They were able to rescue three other residents on lower floors and got them safely out of the building.

The Deputy requested an additional Ladder company prior to ordering a second-alarm at 12:17 PM. Companies on floors 2 and 3 reported finding heavy fire in the walls around 12:40 PM and a third-alarm was transmitted. All companies were then ordered out of the building at 12:45 PM. All fire companies were accounted for and then switched to a defensive operation. At 1:10 PM, a fourth-alarm was ordered. In all, 10 Waltham Fire Companies responded, plus WFD command staff and 12 mutual aid companies from cities and towns including Newton, Belmont, Cambridge, Weston and Watertown. Another 7 Mutual Aid Companies helped cover Waltham during the fire operations. Armstrong Ambulance also responded to the fire with a Medic Unit, 3 Ambulances and a Supervisor. 

Approximately 10-15 residents have been displaced by this fire and the Red Cross was notified. The cause of the fire in under investigation by the Waltham Fire and Police Departments along with assistance from the State Fire Marshal’s office.