CHELSEA, MASS. (WHDH) - Two families were displaced and a firefighter was taken to a hospital Wednesday after a fire at a restaurant in Chelsea.
The fire burned at Los Amigos Restaurant and sparked a massive response from firefighters from Chelsea and surrounding communities.
Heavy smoke and flames could be seen billowing out of both stories of the structure on Broadway when fire crews arrived around 9 a.m. Fire crews could soon be seen attempting entry through the charred rear of the building and on the roof hammering down.
Authorities said the fire was put out in about an hour. Though the damage was limited to the one structure, officials said neighboring buildings potentially had water damage.
In an update later Wednesday afternoon, authorities said a Revere firefighter was taken to a hospital for what was considered a head injury.
“We’re in a commercial block, buildings are attached,” said Chelsea Fire Chief Leonard Albanese. “These are tough fire fights.”
“They were able to keep it to the structure of origin. Really strong work by the members,” Albanese continued.
With two families forced out of their homes on the day before Thanksgiving, crews worked into the night Wednesday to hopefully bring the displaced families home.
Chelsea Emergency Management Director Steve Staffier said crews were working to get power restored after the fire. A second issue, he said, “is obviously cleanup.”
At businesses near the site of this fire, such as the Calaveras Tattoo Studio, workers were thankful they had no damage.
Though crews contained the fire, one area store owner said this fire’s timing and the need to close up shop on the day before a major holiday hit hard.
“We lost business,” said Thaier Tuffaha. “It’s Thanksgiving Day tomorrow. We sell aluminum foil, kitchen stuff, all the things, that’s the stuff we sell here.”
An investigation into the cause of this fire remained ongoing as of Wednesday evening.
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