Four-Alarm Blaze Burning in Massachusetts

BOSTON --

Firefighters battled a four-alarm blaze at a condominium complex in Lexington on Friday.

Fire Damages Condo Complex | Uncut Video | Images

Flames broke out at the Hancock School Condominiums -- a four-story building at 33 Forest St. -- at about 2:30 p.m. Smoke that billowed from the roof of the building could be seen for miles.

"There was smoke up under the shingles -- way up under the roofline," witness Dan Holt said. "We saw the flames come through the roof."

Several residents were inside the building at the time but were able to get out safely. The building, which dates to 1887, was a former school. It was converted to condo units about 30 years ago.

Roofers were working on the building, using a torch when the fire started.

"Once the flames came through a big hole in the roof, it just spread along the roofline," Holt said.

"They were utilizing a propane torch and a heating unit," Lexington Fire Department Chief William Middlemass said.

Peg Kennedy, who was at work when the fire started, owns one of the condos.

"The top floor in the back -- the tower. I have not even looked at it yet. I don't want to see it. They have been working for a couple of days on the building. We were just spending a lot of money, doing some work on it," Kennedy said.

There were no reports of any injuries. Middlemass said that he thinks the building is a total loss, although fire inspectors have not been inside the building yet.