Lowell, MA 3rd Alarm - 962-968 Central St - 6/5/17

Lowell Fire Alarm recieved multiple phone calls in the mid afternoon alerting them to a house fire in the area of 950 Central St. A full box assignment of 3 engines, a ladder the rescue and Deputy Chief were sent on the run.

Engine 1, only a few blocks from the scene reported seeing smoke in the distance as they pulled out of their firehouse. On arrival, they reported heavy fire showing from the rear in the basement of a large 2.5 story occupied multiple dwelling. Crews began running lines and advancing toward the fire only to find that the fire was burning thru and behind multiple partition walls making access to the seat of the fire difficult and a 2nd alarm was requested. The fire began to grow in intensity as it extended from the basement, thru the walls of the balloon frame structure and into the upper floors. Heavy smoke began pushing from all around the roof line and out the windows and the decision was made to evacuate the building all together. Firefighters then began an exterior defensive attack on the fire with multiple lines in operation. A third alarm was transmitted shortly after the evacuation tones sounded bringing in additional help from the few remaining Lowell companies and additional mutual aid from Chelmsford and Billerica. As those companies began to arrive, they were put to work checking for fire extension and fire suppression in the attached OMD at 968 Central and 12-14 Crosby St.

It took several hours of intense labor and the subsequesnt overhaul to bring the fire under control. The cause of the fire is still under investigation as of this writing in a collaberative effort between LFD, LPD and the State Fire Marshal's office. The portion of the structure located at 962 Central, which sustained major damage, was to be torn down later that evening due to structural instability with the possibility of a collapse.