READING, Mass. — Fire crews in Reading worked through the night to battle an overnight blaze at a more than 175-year-old house and barn in Reading’s historic district.
Around 1:30 a.m., a firefighter was returning from another call when he saw a fire on Summer Avenue and called for backup.
Upon arrival, firefighters found a large detached barn engulfed in flames. The flames had also extended into the main home.
Fire crews attempted an interior attack, but due to construction inside the building, they were forced to resort to an exterior attack.
Heavy flames shooting out of home on 194 Summer Street in Reading. Firefighters have ladder trucks working to extinguish the roof/cupola. We plan to have an update from the Reading Fire soon. @boston25 pic.twitter.com/e9CC84jV6G
— April Baker (@AprilBakertv) July 9, 2025
“When companies went to the inside of the building to try and attack the fire, they found construction debris and some hazards, and the high heat and low visibility, so they were unable to continue the interior attack, so we had to go to an exterior attack,” Reading Fire Chief Richard Nelson explained.
Nelson tells Boston 25 that the home was under construction and had been vacant for some time.
Records from the Reading Assessor’s Office show the home was built in 1848.
Summer Ave is still teeming with firefighters 9.5 hours after a fire destroyed a barn and seriously damaged a home. No word yet if it’s a total loss.
— April Baker (@AprilBakertv) July 9, 2025
Reading Assessor’s Office reports the home was built in 1848. State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause. @boston25 pic.twitter.com/Kqzz0SPEqI
Neighborhood resident Judy Richard told Boston 25 that the homeowners had been working to restore the property for nearly two years with plans to put it on the market.
“They’ve been renovating it for about a year and a half to two years. Doing all of the hand sanding, restoring everything back to its former glory,” Richard said. “I’m really hoping they’ll be able to rebuild at least something that fits the community.”
There were no injuries to report, and fire officials said that crews would be on scene for several hours monitoring hot spots.
Richard said the street was once named the prettiest in America and that the restorations to the home had been shaping up beautifully.
“We watched them restore all of the top with all the copper roofing and just the new windows, the sanding and painting, I mean it was all done by hand,” Richard explained. “Like old artisan carpentry work, so it was beautiful.”
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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