Summer Ave fire still under investigation: Fire Chief commends town-wide response
Nearly a week after a fire devastated a historic Summer Avenue property, the cause remains under investigation, and questions about what sparked the early-morning blaze remain unanswered.
Fire Chief Richard Nelson provided an update, noting that while the department is still actively working to determine the origin of the fire, there is no timeline for when an official report might be available.
The July 9 blaze destroyed a large detached barn and severely damaged the adjacent historic home, which had been under renovation for over a year and was about a month away from completion. The incident drew a significant emergency response, with no injuries reported, but left the community reeling from the loss of one of its iconic homes.
A coordinated, town-wide response
While the cause remains unknown, Chief Nelson emphasized what stood out to him the most: the seamless coordination between town departments during the emergency.
“This was such a cooperative event that it is hard to single any one person out. All of my firefighters and the mutual aid firefighters did the community proud. It was a very stubborn fire that took a great effort of many firefighters to extinguish.”
In particular, Nelson praised the interoperability between departments, highlighting the essential roles that both the Reading Police Department and the Department of Public Works (DPW) played during and after the fire.
Above-and-beyond support from police and DPW
The Reading Police Department assisted with controlling the large fire scene, closing roads, and limiting access so fire crews could focus on suppression. They also deployed their drone unit, which provided real-time aerial thermal imaging, helping firefighters more precisely direct water streams toward hot spots from above.
Meanwhile, the DPW provided critical support both during and after the fire. From delivering barriers and refueling trucks to helping manage a dangerous volume of water that accumulated on-site, DPW crews were instrumental in ensuring both safety and continuity of operations.
“The volume of water coupled... with the topography of the site resulted in the house and rear driveway having 4-5 feet of water in it. This complicated firefighting, was a hinderance for the fire investigation, and importantly could have been a safety hazard if it caused the old fieldstone foundation to fail.”
DPW crew used pumps to remove the excess water and later brought in an excavator to support the investigation as required by state law.
Teamwork in moments of crisis
While Chief Nelson said cooperation among departments is not new to Reading, the Summer Avenue fire - his first major incident as chief - highlighted that teamwork in a powerful way.
“The Town has an amazing staff that works cooperatively every day. This is really emphasized during major events.”
He referenced a previous example from fall 2024 when the forestry department worked alongside fire crews during a major brush fire to remove dangerous “deadfall” trees, some of which were still smoldering.
Looking ahead
As the investigation continues, the community remains heartbroken by the loss of the historic Summer Avenue home. But through the destruction, one bright spot emerged: the clear dedication and collaboration of Reading’s first responders and town departments.
“I am proud to work with each of our departments each day, but for sure I am very grateful for the help that was supplied during the fire.”
