Haverhill, MA 2nd Alarm - 251 S Main St - 9/26/15
Around 1530 Saturday afternoon September 26, 2015, Haverhill Fire Alarm recieved multiple calls reporting a porch fire at 251 S Main St in the Bradford section of the city. Incoming companies reported smoke showing in the distance and a 2nd alarm was requested by Deputy Tarpy on his arrival.
The initial report was heavy fire in the rear of an occupied 2.5 story wood frame. Firefighters encountered heavy fire conditions that had extended from the rear porch area into the 2nd floor and attic. With fire having taken over the attic, firefighters were pulled from the building and a defensive posture was taken with several big lines and ladder pipes put into operation.
It took several hours to bring the fire under control with the help from a number of mutual aid companies from Lawrence, Salem NH and a few others.
On a side note, at least an hour into the fire, the members of Salem NH Ladder 1 repositioned their aerial and Lt Coonrod directed, from the tip, the ladder into place at a 2nd floor window. He reached into the window and came out with something. At first it was difficult to see due to the heavy smoke condition, but it turned out to be the homeowners missing cat....and it was alive!!! With a rousing ovation from the onlookers across the street, Lt Coonrod returned the feline to its owner. I must say, her reaction was absolutely amazing. She was in the midst of losing everything in her home but she didnt care. She was so happy, with an exhilerating outburst in finding out they got her family pet out alive. It was a tuly great moment to witness. Pets are such an important part of a family who chooses to have one and this woman appeared as though she had just won the lottery. Very humbling and Im glad she found a ray of sunshine and hope in an otherwise tragic event in her life.
**Theres a lot of photos in this gallery. Ive tried my best to get them GENERALLY into the order taken but with 2 cameras and different file names/times, its next to impossible**
Read MoreThe initial report was heavy fire in the rear of an occupied 2.5 story wood frame. Firefighters encountered heavy fire conditions that had extended from the rear porch area into the 2nd floor and attic. With fire having taken over the attic, firefighters were pulled from the building and a defensive posture was taken with several big lines and ladder pipes put into operation.
It took several hours to bring the fire under control with the help from a number of mutual aid companies from Lawrence, Salem NH and a few others.
On a side note, at least an hour into the fire, the members of Salem NH Ladder 1 repositioned their aerial and Lt Coonrod directed, from the tip, the ladder into place at a 2nd floor window. He reached into the window and came out with something. At first it was difficult to see due to the heavy smoke condition, but it turned out to be the homeowners missing cat....and it was alive!!! With a rousing ovation from the onlookers across the street, Lt Coonrod returned the feline to its owner. I must say, her reaction was absolutely amazing. She was in the midst of losing everything in her home but she didnt care. She was so happy, with an exhilerating outburst in finding out they got her family pet out alive. It was a tuly great moment to witness. Pets are such an important part of a family who chooses to have one and this woman appeared as though she had just won the lottery. Very humbling and Im glad she found a ray of sunshine and hope in an otherwise tragic event in her life.
**Theres a lot of photos in this gallery. Ive tried my best to get them GENERALLY into the order taken but with 2 cameras and different file names/times, its next to impossible**
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