Andover, MA 2nd Alarm - IAO 279 N Main St at The Wood Estate - 2/10/14
Around 7pm on Monday night February 10th, Andover Engine 1, returning from a call for assistance, noticed a cloud of smoke in the area of 279 N Main St. They radioed in to Andover Fire Alarm about their intent to investigate the source of the smoke and shortly thereafter found heavy fire showing from a 2 1/2 story wooden structure set back in the sprawling and Historic Wood Estate. A working fire was ordered by the officer of Engine 1 which brought in Engine 3, Ladder 1, A1 and Car 2.
Due to the structures remote location on the property, getting water up to the fire proved initially to be a problem. The chief officer requested an additional Engine company to the scene, Andover Engine 2, followed shortly thereafter by a request for a 2nd alarm to be transmitted. Firefighters took up a defensive posture on the building as it was unoccupied at the time of the fire and was heavily involved in fire. Several exterior hand lines and a master stream appliance via Ladder 1's ladder pipe were put to use to try to bring the fire under control. After a long battle, the structure did collapse to the ground in flames due to the volume of fire in the attic. An additional partial collapse occurred about 20 minutes later. Firefighters remained on scene for several hours dousing the remaining fire.
As of now, the fire is considered suspicious due to the structure having been unoccupied for several years and not having any electrical service at the time of the fire. The caretaker on scene mentioned that youths were often caught in and around the building. Unfortunately, the building is a total loss.
Due to the cold, I nearly left the fire but as I went to get in my car, I looed at the fire building and saw heavy fire rolling in the attic thru the 2 D side attic windows. It had been the most visible fire I had seen in the time I had been there. I decided to grab my camera and head back toward the scene. I stopped to shoot from a small bridge on the opposite side of the frozen pond from the building. Had I not stopped there, Id have missed the initial collapse of the structure. It came down fast and I did the best I could from where I was positioned to catch it. Certainly glad I went back.
Read MoreDue to the structures remote location on the property, getting water up to the fire proved initially to be a problem. The chief officer requested an additional Engine company to the scene, Andover Engine 2, followed shortly thereafter by a request for a 2nd alarm to be transmitted. Firefighters took up a defensive posture on the building as it was unoccupied at the time of the fire and was heavily involved in fire. Several exterior hand lines and a master stream appliance via Ladder 1's ladder pipe were put to use to try to bring the fire under control. After a long battle, the structure did collapse to the ground in flames due to the volume of fire in the attic. An additional partial collapse occurred about 20 minutes later. Firefighters remained on scene for several hours dousing the remaining fire.
As of now, the fire is considered suspicious due to the structure having been unoccupied for several years and not having any electrical service at the time of the fire. The caretaker on scene mentioned that youths were often caught in and around the building. Unfortunately, the building is a total loss.
Due to the cold, I nearly left the fire but as I went to get in my car, I looed at the fire building and saw heavy fire rolling in the attic thru the 2 D side attic windows. It had been the most visible fire I had seen in the time I had been there. I decided to grab my camera and head back toward the scene. I stopped to shoot from a small bridge on the opposite side of the frozen pond from the building. Had I not stopped there, Id have missed the initial collapse of the structure. It came down fast and I did the best I could from where I was positioned to catch it. Certainly glad I went back.
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