The city of Peabody is in mourning today.

[polmaven]

PEABODY — A veteran Peabody firefighter died yesterday while battling a three-alarm fire that left as many as 13 people homeless two days before Christmas.

James Rice, 46, was between the second and third floors of a three-story apartment building at 5 Hancock St. when he went down after taking in "toxic fumes," fire Chief Steve Pasdon said. Firefighters and paramedics worked on Rice at the scene, and he was immediately transported to Salem Hospital.

Pasdon did not specify the cause of death other than to call it a "medical condition."

http://www.salemnews.com/