Fire Shuts Down Highland Avenue Tuesday

Update, 7:30 p.m.: The American Red Cross of Eastern Massachusetts said it assisted four families, consisting of 12 people—nine adults and three children—after Tuesday's fire. According to the Red Cross, "Each family received emergency hotel stay for two nights, and funds for food. One family received additional funds for clothing, while another received additional funds for infant supplies."

Update, 4 p.m.: According to the American Red Cross of Eastern Massachusetts, four families, consisting of about 11 people, were displaced by the fire. The Red Cross was assisting these families with emergency temporary shelter at a hotel, funds for food and clothing, and comfort kits, which include toiletries. The Red Cross said 34 Highland Ave. was a 16-unit apartment building.

By 3:45 p.m. (and probably earlier) Highland Avenue was open to traffic.

ORIGINAL STORY

A fire at 34 Highland Ave. Tuesday afternoon shut down Highland Avenue near the Somerville Public Library.

Somerville Fire Chief Kevin Kelleher said the fire department responded at 12:52 p.m. to the four-story apartment building for a fire in a top-floor apartment.

"The cause of the fire at this time is unknown. We do not believe it to be suspicious," Kelleher said at about 2:15 p.m.

Somerville has suffered from several fires over the summer, and at least three were determined to be caused by arson.

Kelleher said the fire started in apartment 8R and was in the wall between apartment 8R and 8F. Those two apartments, and a third, would not be inhabitable due to the fire, he said.

Kellerher did not know how many residents were displaced, but he said the American Red Cross was on the scene.

Highland Avenue, a main thoroughfare through the city, was closed between Vinal Avenue and Walnut Street as firefighters put out the fire. This section of Highland Avenue is blocks away from McGrath Highway.

Somerville Patch will post more information if and when it becomes available.