Fire leaves 1 injured, 6 others without home in New Bedford

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — A fire in New Bedford left one person injured and six others without a home Tuesday morning.

The incident happened just before 8 a.m. on Rockway Street.

Fire officials said the first and second floors of the building sustained heavy damage. The building is a total loss.

No firefighters were injured.

Firefighters said the person who was hurt was taken to the hospital for minor burns and smoke inhalation.

Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Medeiros told ABC 6 News that the person is being treated in the intensive care unit. Three others were also taken to the hospital as a precaution for smoke inhalation.

Some relatives told ABC 6  that there were cats inside the building. Firefighters didn’t find any pets.

Tuesday’s fire comes just a day after New Bedford announced a plan for fire prevention that will include more building inspections and a new code compliance supervisor for the city.

The cause of the fire wasn’t immediately known.