Overnight fire destroys historic Summer Ave property

Jul 9

A devastating overnight fire has left a historic Summer Ave home severely damaged, marking a significant loss for both the property owner and the wider Reading community.

The blaze broke out in the early hours of Wednesday morning at a property that had been vacant for decades and under renovation since April 2024. According to reports from NBC 10 Boston, fire officials believe the fire began in a detached barn behind the home, which was completely destroyed. The flames then spread to the main residence, igniting a portion of the structure and eventually engulfing it.

Boston 25 News reported that a firefighter returning from another call around 1:30 am spotted the fire and immediately called for assistance. When crews arrived on the scene, they found the large barn fully engulfed in flames, with fire rapidly extending to the residential portion of the property.

Reading Fire Chief Richard Nelson said that conditions inside the home quickly became unsafe for interior operations. “When companies went 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 for an exterior attack,” Nelson said.

This historic home, which has been vacant during renovations, was nearing completion. The homeowners were approximately one month away from finishing their project and had an application scheduled before the Reading Historic Commission for a public hearing on July 16 regarding plans to install an in-ground pool, tennis court, and fencing.

No injuries have been reported, and fire crews remained on scene through Wednesday morning to monitor and extinguish lingering hot spots. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

As Summer Avenue residents awoke to the aftermath, many expressed sorrow over the loss of one of the neighborhood’s historic homes - an irreplaceable piece of Reading’s architectural character.

To appreciate the care and vision behind the renovations prior to this tragedy, visit this blog documenting the home’s progress.