A three-alarm fire broke out early Thursday morning at a strip mall in Brockton, Massachusetts. Firefighters were called to the building at 880 Main Street just before 1:30 a.m. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy smoke and flames, officials said. “I’ve spent more time here than I have in my own home. What does it feel like to come here and see everything go up in flames? It’s heartbreaking,” said owner Joan Alves. Alves and his brother Rudy opened Khalil’s Kitchen early in the COVID-19 pandemic. The restaurant was one of several businesses destroyed by fire, wiping out years of hard work in minutes. “Honestly, I don’t know how to feel. We did everything we could to stay open and now it’s the only way we’re going to lose it,” Rudy Alves said. Two people in the building’s basement escaped the fire. “Our crews attempted to enter the building and were able to search it several times. We had a few residents who were able to get out of the building on their own,” said Brockton Fire Department Deputy Chief Jeffrey Marchetti. “It appears the fire started in the back of the building, but we’re not sure exactly if it was inside or outside. We’re still investigating.” One firefighter sustained injuries to his leg and was taken to a local hospital. Crews were able to prevent the flames from spreading to a nearby home. “One of the firefighters came to my house and started knocking,” said resident Derek Pires. The Alves brothers are searching for answers and trying to decide their next move. “It’s just gone down the drain, our whole lives, working hard,” Rudy Alves said. “I’m here every day, working from opening to closing,” Joan Alves said. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
A three-alarm fire broke out at a shopping mall in Brockton, Massachusetts, early Thursday morning.
Firefighters were called to the building at 880 Main St. just before 1:30 a.m. Upon arrival, crews encountered heavy smoke and flames, authorities said.
“I’ve spent more time here than I have at home. What does it feel like to come here and see everything in flames? It’s just heartbreaking,” business owner Joan Alves said.
Alves and his brother Rudy opened Khalil’s Kitchen early in the COVID-19 pandemic.
The restaurant was one of several destroyed in the fire, wiping out years of hard work in a matter of minutes.
“Honestly, I don’t know how to feel. We have done everything we can to stay in this situation and now it’s the only way to get out of it,” Rudi Alves said.
Two people in the building’s basement escaped the blaze.
“Our crews were able to enter the building and conduct several searches. Several residents were able to extricate themselves from the building,” said Brockton Fire Department Deputy Chief Jeffrey Marchetti. “The fire appears to have started in the rear of the building, but we’re not sure exactly if it was inside or outside. We’re still investigating.”
One firefighter sustained a leg injury and was taken to a local hospital.
Firefighters were able to prevent the flames from spreading to nearby homes.
“One of the firefighters came to my house and started knocking,” resident Derek Pires said.
The Alves brothers are searching for answers and trying to decide their next steps.
“Everything I’ve done in my life, everything I’ve worked for, everything has gone down the drain,” Rudy Alves said.
“I’m here every day from opening to closing,” Joan Alves said.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
