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Suspect dead after opening fire at police during Chelsea standoff

CHELSEA, Mass. — The suspect in an hours-long standoff with police in Chelsea late Monday night is dead.

The chaotic situation unfolded at 74 Warren Avenue just after 9 p.m. Monday when police responded to reports of a man who was threatening to shoot his wife.

WATCH: Barricaded man opens fire at officers during live report on Boston 25 News

At some point after officers arrived, the unidentified 38-year-old suspect opened fire at officers, and several police departments from the surrounding area were called to assist at the scene.

Dozens of officers surrounded the home, and a short time after shots were fired the home somehow caught fire with the man still barricaded inside.

MORE: Suspect barricaded in burning home after firing at officers in Chelsea

As first responders tried desperately to extinguish the blaze from a safe distance, nearby homes were evacuated.

“I saw all of these police vehicles, Saugus, Chelsea, Revere, and I stayed and observed what was going on,” neighborhood resident Joe Camerario said. “Then around 9:50 p.m., I heard two gunshots and the police came out and told everyone to move away and go home.”

State and local police provided updates to the public via Twitter, and just before 11 p.m. Massachusetts State Police said it was assisting Chelsea and Boston police after the suspect barricaded himself inside the home.

Just after 11 p.m., state police said a negotiator was attempting to contact the barricaded man and that the rear of the home was in flames.

After the fire was extinguished and the situation was more stable, police said the body of the suspect had been located inside the home and he was dead from a gunshot wound.

It’s still unclear whether the wound was self-inflicted or he was hit at some point during the exchange of gunfire with officers.

Police said a woman living inside the home where the incident occurred, as well as her 10-year-old daughter, were safely evacuated before the fire broke out and are safe.

The incident remains under investigation.