Firefighters Battle 2 Alarm Fire In Watertown

Flames engulfed a Watertown home as firefighters arrived late Thursday afternoon, and it took about an hour and a half to douse the two-alarm fire.

The cause of the fire at 88 Galen St. was not immediately known, said Fire Chief Mario Orangio. He said one man was in the home when the fire started, but he got out before fire crews arrived.

The fire began at about 4:45 p.m., and a second alarm was quickly called. The fire damaged the right side of the home, which sits next to Valvoline Oil Change. They finally were doused by about 6:15 p.m.

The stubborn fire flared up a number of times, and at one point all firefighters were called out of the house with loud blasts of horns on the fire trucks.

The American Red Cross helped two adults from two units affected by the fire.
One resident had a place to stay, and the Red Cross put the other up in a hotel. Both received funds for food, clothing and seasonal garments, according to the Red Cross.

Traffic was been shut down both directions on this key route from Mass Pike Exit 17 to Watertown Square during the evening rush hour. Gridlock impacted many streets around Watertown Square.