Officers make rescues at burning Revere homes

REVERE, Mass. -- A three-alarm fire broke out in a multi-family home in Revere, Mass. on Thursday afternoon.

Witnesses said the fire produced a large amount of smoke.

“It went up like kindling,” said one onlooker. “As fast as lightening.”

The fire started at a home on Dana Street and quickly spread to another home on North Shore Road.

“We seen a younger girl running towards the house,” said Officer Gerard Salvati of the Revere Police Department. “Smoke was coming out, so Mike and I ran I was saying ‘police, stop, stop, stop!’ Not realizing that her father was in the house.”

The officers ran into the burning building to help save the people inside.

“We noticed a gentleman on the floor so Mike and I grabbed him, tried to get him out with the heavy smoke and the heat. We got him out safely thank God,” Officer Salvati.

Meanwhile, the fire was spreading to a nearby home.

“We didn’t have time to grab the cats or nothing, just ran out the door,” said Shannon Bottari.

As they were running out, two MBTA police officers and a state trooper were running in.

“We saw the house on fire. Us and a state trooper went into the house and helped remove some people from the house,” said Silen.

The fire was devastating. More than a dozen people lost everything. But despite their loss, everyone was thankful for those men who rushed in to help.

“They’re all our guardian angels. The fire department, Revere, their police, state police. All our guardian angels,” said John Bottari, a fire Victim.

The transit officers saved the lives of many.

“That’s part of our job,” said Silen. “I believe that’s why we all took this job.”

According to the fire department, the fire started on the back porch of the home on Dana Street and quickly spread next door.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The Red Cross is helping 23 people displaced by the fire.

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