Scammer
Banned
[video]http://www.thebostonchannel.com/r/26286375/detail.html[/video]
Photos: Families Rescued From Burning, Flooded Homes - Photos - WCVB Boston
SCITUATE, Mass. -- Fire crews in Scituate had to scramble to rescue dozens of residents Monday after several beachfront homes burst into flames during the height of a fierce ocean storm that pummeled the coastline with blizzard-strength winds and flooded coastal communities.
National Guard troops were called in to help with evacuations of residents trapped in their homes by rising flood waters and Scituate officials said they were expecting to have to evacuate 50 to 100 residents total on Monday.
It's been a challenging 18 hours," said Deputy Fire Chief John Murphy. "It was just one very hectic night."
Firefighters had to use inflatable watercraft to rescue a family of four, including two children and their dog, from a Seventh Avenue house after a vacant summer home next door burst into flames. High winds quickly carried burning embers to another nearby house, which also rapidly burned.
Three other people were also rescued from another nearby home, fire crews said. Everyone was able to escape the scene unharmed, but fire crews struggled to keep all the homes along the densely populated beachfront road from going up in flames.
Firefighters said they had trouble battling the blazes because they were unable to get water hoses to the houses through the flooded streets, and high 40 mph wind gusts created the possibility that they could lose all the homes along that stretch of beachfront property.
"This storm is an extreme storm. Probably the highest tides we've seen since the No Name storm," said Murphy.
He said the fires were caused by flood waters shorting out electrical equipment.
Tom Reilly, a resident who grew up in one of the burning houses, said it was always up to code because it had originally been owned by an electrician. Still, he said, most of the houses were probably no match for the raging storm surge that assaulted the beach overnight.
"We've been here eight years and this is the worst we've seen it in eight years," said one resident who had to be evacuated from his home when waves began flooding it. He said during the height of the storm his house was shaking and it was scary but, "It's my house and I want to stay in my home."
The town declared a state of emergency Sunday and opened a shelter where at least 15 to 20 residents went when flooding began during the overnight high tide, said town administrator Patricia Binchesi.
Several homeowners said the raging surf crashed over the sea walls. One resident said it was the most frightening thing she ever experienced.
"The waves were going over the house and shaking the house like it was Jurassic Park," she said.
Photos: Families Rescued From Burning, Flooded Homes - Photos - WCVB Boston
SCITUATE, Mass. -- Fire crews in Scituate had to scramble to rescue dozens of residents Monday after several beachfront homes burst into flames during the height of a fierce ocean storm that pummeled the coastline with blizzard-strength winds and flooded coastal communities.
National Guard troops were called in to help with evacuations of residents trapped in their homes by rising flood waters and Scituate officials said they were expecting to have to evacuate 50 to 100 residents total on Monday.
It's been a challenging 18 hours," said Deputy Fire Chief John Murphy. "It was just one very hectic night."
Firefighters had to use inflatable watercraft to rescue a family of four, including two children and their dog, from a Seventh Avenue house after a vacant summer home next door burst into flames. High winds quickly carried burning embers to another nearby house, which also rapidly burned.
Three other people were also rescued from another nearby home, fire crews said. Everyone was able to escape the scene unharmed, but fire crews struggled to keep all the homes along the densely populated beachfront road from going up in flames.
Firefighters said they had trouble battling the blazes because they were unable to get water hoses to the houses through the flooded streets, and high 40 mph wind gusts created the possibility that they could lose all the homes along that stretch of beachfront property.
"This storm is an extreme storm. Probably the highest tides we've seen since the No Name storm," said Murphy.
He said the fires were caused by flood waters shorting out electrical equipment.
Tom Reilly, a resident who grew up in one of the burning houses, said it was always up to code because it had originally been owned by an electrician. Still, he said, most of the houses were probably no match for the raging storm surge that assaulted the beach overnight.
"We've been here eight years and this is the worst we've seen it in eight years," said one resident who had to be evacuated from his home when waves began flooding it. He said during the height of the storm his house was shaking and it was scary but, "It's my house and I want to stay in my home."
The town declared a state of emergency Sunday and opened a shelter where at least 15 to 20 residents went when flooding began during the overnight high tide, said town administrator Patricia Binchesi.
Several homeowners said the raging surf crashed over the sea walls. One resident said it was the most frightening thing she ever experienced.
"The waves were going over the house and shaking the house like it was Jurassic Park," she said.
