by GLENN NYBACK
Fire marshals are investigating the cause of a fast-moving fire that ripped through a two-story brick building in West Brighton yesterday morning, displacing the woman who lived in a second-floor apartment and damaging the offices of an orthodontist, a lawyer and a union local. The fire at 1086 Forest Ave., which was reported at 6:54 a.m., went to two alarms five minutes later and drew the response of 17 units with more than 85 firefighters. "We had heavy fire," said Acting Deputy Chief Mark Fernen of Division 8, adding that officials worried that the blaze would spread to adjacent homes. "It was emanating from the windows on both sides. Firefighters made a very aggressive attack and were able to bring the fire under control in a relatively short period of time." The blaze was extinguished at 7:17 a.m. The building is located directly across the street from Blessed Sacrament R.C. Church. Fernen said the fire started on the first floor, which houses the offices of Carpenters Union Local 20 and orthodontist Dr. Joseph Tucker. Fire marshals will investigate because of the heavy volume of fire, but the blaze is not considered suspicious, Fernen said. In addition to an apartment occupied by Mary Massarelli, the law offices of Vincent Giovinazzo are on the second floor. "I woke up and the whole room was filled with white smoke," Ms. Massarelli said, standing on the sidewalk outside the building wearing slippers and a winter coat. "I just want to run up and get some jeans. I don't care if it smells like smoke. I'm just glad I'm OK." The inside of the house was badly damaged by water, smoke and flames, which charred the walls. Most of the structure's windows were blown out. How much is salvageable from the offices and apartment was not immediately known. "The whole thing's just a tragedy" said Vincent Giovinazzo Jr. "We'll recover anything we can."
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