Fire guts home near Saugus Town Hall

SAUGUS – Saugus Fire Chief Donald McQuaid said four people were displaced after a three-alarm fire destroyed a house across from Town Hall early Wednesday morning.McQuaid said four people were living in the three-family house at 11 Taylor St. McQuaid said the fire started around 2:30 a.m. when one of the residents flipped on a light switch in the bathroom and heard a “crackling noise.”?To me it looks like a total loss,” said McQuaid, who estimated the damage to be at least $450,000.Saugus Fire Capt. Steve Johnson said fire inspectors are “pretty confident” it was an electrical problem.The fire reached three alarms, and Johnson said it started on the second floor, spread to the attic and then “dropped down” to the rest of the house.?They made an aggressive attack when they first got here, but then it went to an exterior,” said Johnson.Johnson said there were no injuries reported.Firefighters were still at the scene at around 9 a.m. Wednesday as much of the roof was collapsed. Smoke could still be seen smoldering from the broken and charred windows on the second floor.Kat Powers, spokeswoman for the Red Cross of Eastern Massachusetts, said three people were assisted by the Red Cross in getting emergency shelter while a fourth person chose to stay with friends.?All four are getting emergency funds for food, clothing, winter coats, and they?re getting comfort kits, which are toiletries,” she said.McQuaid said firefighters did an “unbelievably great job” in keeping the fire from spreading to other homes.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].