No injuries were reported after an 971 Allen St. basement fire started late in the morning on May 6. However, the house is now unlivable.

“It appears that there was a heating coil in the basement that failed and ignited something it was sitting on,” said District 3 Fire Chief Richard Arruda, adding that it was accidental.

Arruda said that the family wasn’t home when the fire began, but arrived to find smoke emerging from the basement. There was an 11:47 a.m. call for smoke in the house.

“We responded with all three stations yesterday,” said Arruda.

After putting out the fire, it became apparent that the house would no longer be livable.

“There was substantial damage in the basement and smoke damage throughout the house,” said Arruda.