Fire in Gloucester, Mass. Kills 1, Destroys Several Buildings

A fire in Gloucester, Mass. destroyed an apartment building and a synagogue, killing at least one person, authorities said.

The eight-alarm fire started late Friday in the four-story apartment building and spread to Temple Ahavat Achim. Both buildings were reduced to embers.

The buildings are just 50 feet from the fire department’s headquarters, and firefighters were able to stop the blaze from spreading downtown.

One person was killed, Fire Chief Barry McKay said, but he did not identify the victim.

The cause of the fire hadn’t been determined, he said.