Mother, son seriously hurt in Somerville fire

By David Abel, Globe Staff

SOMERVILLE -- A mother and her adult son were hospitalized after they were rescued overnight from a four-alarm fire at a five-unit apartment house, according to a fire official and a family member.

“We haven’t seen such a fully involved fire like this in Somerville in years,” Somerville Fire Chief Kevin Kelleher said.

Police officers and firefighters rushed into the home on Harvard Place at about 11 p.m. and pulled the mother and son from the flames. They were rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital.

Tracy Hughes said her mother and brother are recovering and lucky to be alive.

“Everyone’s doing much better,” she said in front of the charred remains of their five-unit, 19th-century Greek revival home, which her family has owned for generations.

Firefighters recovered her diamond ring and a metal box with about $10,000 in savings bonds, but she said the family lost their cat, Willy, two parakeets, and 10 hamsters.

“It’s very depressing,” Hughes said.

One of the police officers who rushed into the home was taken to Cambridge Hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries and released, said Captain Paul Upton of the Somerville Police Department. Three firefighters also suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

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