New Bedford firefighters rescued some and others jumped to escape a massive fire in a rooming house Tuesday night.
New Bedford Fire Chief Scott Kruger confirmed that two people were found dead, WPRI reported.
Manuel Moreira, 59, lived on the fourth floor and was found Tuesday night, while another person was found Wednesday afternoon.
Kruger said firefighters rescued at least three residents before they were forced to retreat as conditions worsened.
Jason Gilmore leapt to safety from a second-floor fire escape with several other tenants.
“It was too much. I tried to make it out of my room but all I could see was smoke. I tried making it down the stairs and I couldn’t … the fire was coming up too quickly,” he told a reporter.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
