SCITUATE, Mass. - Authorities say two homes near Scituate's waterfront that had been evacuated because of flooding caused by an overnight snowstorm later caught fire.


Firefighters also dealing with several feet of water that had swept over the seawall battled the fire at about 7 a.m. on Monday. There was no word on the fire's cause.

Peter Judge, a spokesman for the state emergency management agency, says the National Guard helped local police evacuate about a dozen homes in town. Homes were also evacuated in Quincy and Rockport.

Shelters have opened in those three communities as well as in Hull.

He says the number of people evacuated was "not significant."

The National Weather Service says the flooding was caused by strong onshore winds and 20- to 25-foot waves during the high tide.

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