Fire destroys six-unit building in New Bedford

By Sarah Gantz, Globe Correspondent

With no protective gear or air tanks, police officers rushed into a burning New Bedford building early yesterday morning to evacuate its occupants, police said.

The fire, which broke out at about 1:30 a.m., destroyed a six-family residence on Cleveland Street, New Bedford Police Lieutenant Jeffrey Silva said last night. The cause was an electric blanket that was being used by one second-floor resident to keep her cats warm, he said.

Firefighters rescued a resident trapped on the third floor, police said in a statement.

After evacuating the residents, police re-entered the building to rescue residents' pets. They rescued two cats and a dog, but could not save three cats.

Officers Meghan Toromino, Paul Lagoa, Wayne Morris, and Nathan Monteiro were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation, but no one was seriously injured.

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