Stubborn Newton 3-Alarm House Fire Closes Roads In Newtonville

Updated 5 p.m.

NEWTON, MA — A Newtonville house fire that reached three alarms forced hours of road closures and sent thick smoke into the area of Central Avenue on Wednesday.

The Newton Police Department said shortly after noon that Crafts Street at Watertown Street and Central Avenue at Prescott Street would be closed "until further notice."

"Please avoid the Crafts Street area," police said at about 12:30 p.m.

NBC Boston reported that the house was undergoing renovations and was unoccupied with no one believed to be inside at the time of the fire.

Newton fire crews were able to get the blaze under control late in the afternoon but not before it destroyed much of the roof.