Three rescued from house fire in New Bedford

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — Heavy smoke came off a house on Weld Street in New Bedford Sunday afternoon.

New Bedford Fire Chief Brian Medeiros said there was heavy fire on the first floor as well as “extensive exterior damage.”

He added that there were three people trapped on the third floor who had to be directed out of the building.

“The crews directed them to the rear stairwell,” Medeiros said. “Everybody was able to escape safely.”

Two of the occupants had to be brought to a local hospital for smoke inhalation but were determined to be okay.

Darryl Lopez was one of the residents who was on the third floor alongside his wife and granddaughter.

“This happened once before and panic set in, so we ran,” he said. “The smoke was worse than I’d ever seen before, and there were a lot of firemen, it was enough to worry me and to get my granddaughter out of there as soon as possible.”

Medeiros said the home suffered smoke damage but will only require rehabilitation.

A viewer sent ABC 6 photos showing smoke billowing from the home.

A scene at a house on Weld Street in New Bedford. (WLNE)

ABC 6 News Crews were on scene after the fire was put out and saw multiple emergency vehicles, with a ladder truck extended to the house’s roof.