LYNN — Maria Gradozzi doesn’t consider herself a hero, but her actions would indicate otherwise.
Armed with nothing but a fire extinguisher from the MBTA bus she had been driving, Gradozzi raced into a burning three-story building on Moulton Street and worked to help people get out of their homes before firefighters arrived Wednesday night.
Gradozzi, who lives in Lynn, said she had finished her shift for the night and was driving her bus down Boston Street when she noticed a small flame. She didn’t think much of it at first, speculating that someone may have been grilling food in the area, but when people started to panic, she realized a building at the corner of Boston and Moulton streets was on fire.
“I can’t tell you what overcame me,” said Gradozzi, 27, who immediately pulled over to help. “It was just an instinct. Honestly, now that I think about it, I think: ‘what the hell was I thinking running into a burning building?’ The only thing I was thinking was: were there people in the house and I wanted to get them out.'”
Her instincts weren’t the only ones kicking in. She said she was assisted by another Good Samaritan, an unknown man who had also noticed the fire in the area. As the man used her fire extinguisher to try to douse some of the flames, the pair ran through the three-family home, ringing doorbells and yelling “fire” to alert residents that they needed to leave immediately.
Their efforts likely saved some lives Wednesday night as the fire quickly spread from that first building to another triple decker home next door. Those two homes were destroyed in what rapidly became a massive four-alarm fire that raged for hours and kept firefighters from Lynn and surrounding communities working late into the night.
Two other homes were damaged from the fire that night, another home on Moulton Street and one on Boston Street. Two firefighters sustained minor injuries and at least two dozen residents were displaced, but all of the buildings’ occupants were able to get out of their homes and there were no injuries to civilians.
“Right now, I’m OK, knowing that everyone got out of the house OK and in one piece,” said Gradozzi. “I don’t know if it was because of me. I’m definitely not a hero. I’d seen something, had the equipment and did what I thought was the right thing in the moment.”
Gradozzi, who has been an MBTA bus driver for the past two years, confesses that her life is usually boring. Wednesday’s fire was by far the most major incident she’s ever encountered, but she said she didn’t pause to consider her own safety before running toward the flames.
“It was second nature to me,” said Gradozzi. “I just thought it was the right thing to do. My parents always taught me right from wrong. I’d just hope if that happened in my house, someone would do the right thing in return.”
Following the fire’s destruction, there’s been another type of lifesaving effort from the community.
Ebony White, residential director of youth services at the nonprofit Centerboard, said she was home Wednesday night when her son shared an alarming text message he’d received from a fellow basketball player at St. Mary’s School.
“‘I’m lost for words. I can’t stop crying. My house is on fire. I’ve lost everything,’” White recalled the text message.
Not only did White’s son know people who lost their home in the fire, but her friends, Christie and Rob Merryman, also had children whose classmates lived in the burned buildings.
White, the Merrymans, and Ward 6 City Councilor Fred Hogan have started a donation drive for the victims. Specifically, they are asking for gift cards, money, diapers, and sanitary wipes.
“These families don’t have anywhere to put things,” White said. “We thought maybe if people send gift cards, diapers, wipes, these are things that are more tangible in the moment, rather than just sitting there.”
People who wish to donate may contact Ebony White, the Merrymans, or Hogan on Facebook, or bring donations directly to the Centerboard Family Resource Center, 16 City Hall Square. Griz Gear, 517 Boston St., is also collecting clothing and shoes for the families affected by the fire.
The first day of donations was successful, White said, with several people either calling or stopping by Centerboard to drop off gift cards.
White said she hopes the donations will increase, because this is a particularly difficult time — given the COVID-19 outbreak — to seek help after a fire. Agencies that normally might be available are either closing or only offering services over the phone, White said.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s office and the Lynn Fire Investigation Unit.
Although it was declared under control by 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, crews worked through the night to put out “hot spots” and there was a small rekindle from the fire on the roof of 1-3 Moulton St., the initial home that sustained the most damage, on Thursday afternoon.
“The boarding company securing the homes saw some smoke and (we) went up with the ladder truck and hosed it down,” said Lynn Fire Capt. Joseph Zukas.
