DENNIS PORT – At around 12:30 a.m., police and Firefighters scrambled toward [Union] Wharf Road, in the middle of a thickly settled family neighborhood in Dennis Port after receiving 911 calls about a fire in the basement of an apartment building.

Upon arrival, HN encountered very heavy smoke in the area, along with several of the occupants safely outside the building, as police officers tried to get an accurate count of everyone.

One woman was visibly upset, her whole life was still inside, including her medications… but she took some consolation in the fact she managed to finally convince her dog to safely exit the building with her, after some persistent coaxing.

Another resident told HN he was sound asleep when his neighbor kicked his door in. He was grateful to be alive.

It was a harrowing scene for all.

The fire quickly went to a second alarm. There was heavy smoke showing on all sides of the large multi-family building. Firefighters were concentrating on the basement where they believed the fire most likely originated. As you will see, fire tore it’s way through into the rooms on the first floor, as crews from Dennis and surrounding towns hustled to stretch hoses and resupply oxygen tanks.

The last report was that all occupants had made their way out safely.

At the time of this report, 2:30 a.m., the fire had been completely knocked down and the overhaul process was well underway…

No further details available at the time of this report. Check back for official updates… [UPDATED BELOW]

The following HN Video highlights scene…

[HN VIDEO – PRESS PLAY]

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UPDATE:

DENNIS PORT — Tuesday morning, May 11, 2021, at 00:26am, a fast-moving fire tore through 2 units of a condominium apartment building at 75 Union Wharf Road. Eleven people plus a cat were living in the units when the Two Alarm fire broke out. Initial reports by the police were that only two occupants were accounted for. Dennis firefighters quickly changed modes of attack to performing a rapid search of the two and half story wood frame building. The occupants were located by the police down the street sitting in vehicles. Five occupants were evaluated for smoke inhalation at the scene by Dennis and Brewster paramedics and refused transport to the hospital. The cat needed the assistance of oxygen by Brewster firefighters to be revived.

Upon arrival firefighters encountered heavy smoke on all four sides coming from the basement with fire extending up the back of the building. The fire which started in the basement, burnt through floors in two of the units causing a dangerous condition for the firefighters working inside. Firefighters prevented it from getting into the other two units which suffered smoke damage. Extensive overhauling and checking for extension were necessary. Fire crews were tied up for about 4 hours.

The Town of Dennis Assessors map has the building owner listed as David Woodworth and that each unit has an estimated value of $110,000.

A Two Alarm fire in any town gets a lot of resources from each other to put the fire out and tend to the injured. The Dennis Fire Department received assistance from Harwich, Brewster, Yarmouth, Hyannis and Chatham for the fire.

The fire does not appear to be suspicious. Leading indicators are pointing to a clothes dryer that was in use in the basement at the time of the fire.

The four families that were displaced were assisted by the American Red Cross for housing.

There were no injuries reported.

Chief Robert Brown
Dennis Fire

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