Lawrence, MA 3rd Alarm - 28-30 Juniper St - 4/12/23

Lawrence, MA 3rd Alarm 28-30 Juniper St Just after noontime, Wednesday April 12th, 2023 Response: Lawrence Engines 6/7/8/9, Ladders 4 & 5, Squad 1, C21 Deputy Nadeau, C20 Chief Moriarty and the FIU. Mutual Aid on scene were Engines from Andover, N Andover, Dracut, Methuen and Haverhill along with a ladder from Lowell. Coverage at Central included Engines from N Reading and Reading with a Haverhill ladder. Around 12:35pm on Wednesday afternoon April 12th a nearby Fire Dept detail radioed in about a possible building fire, seeing heavy smoke in the air. The fire alarm operator acknowledged the message saying they'd just began receiving multiple calls reporting a house fire on Juniper St and sent out box 5111. The initial box assignment was engine 7/6/8, ladder 5, squad 1 and C21, Deputy Matt Nadeau. On arrival, engine 7 reported a 3 story dwelling well involved and Dep Nadeau requested a 2nd alarm. As firefighters began to run big lines, a primary search was done on the fire building as well as the B & D exposures, also 3 story multi dwellings. The heavy visible fire from the 3rd floor front porch was quickly darkened down but due to the 40+ mph winds, the fire rapidly extended into the cockloft, burning from front to back throughout the 3rd floor. Crews ran and operated a big line from the A/D corner while operating a blitz gun from the A/B corner to help protect the B exposure. Firefighters also ran 2 lines and a blitz gun from the B/C corner in the rear as the fire was blowing out the top floor and roof area, severely threatening the B exposure. Ladders 4 & 5 both operated their aerial master streams as did the Lowell tower from the C side on the next street over. Firefighter spent several hours lobbing water onto the structure which, due to structural compromise ended up collapsing the front porches onto the street and sidewalk below due to the water weight. It was thought that the fire may have extended to the B exposure but it, along with the D exposure were both saved from fire damage. Both did however sustain major heat, smoke and water damage. Just as the fire was placed under control, the resident of the 2nd floor unit asked whether firefighters had found or seen his dog which was inside the home when the fire broke out. The crew which performed the initial search stated they'd not seen a dog and were unaware if it had gotten out. At that very moment, the crowd of bystanders erupted in applause as Chief Moriarty, Captain Hamel and Lieutenant Sanzi exited the side door of the fire building with the dog, ALIVE and seemingly unharmed after 1.5-2hrs inside the building. They walked it around the B exposure and into its driveway where the K9 was reunited with its owner. The genuine excitement from both K9 and owner to see each other was a heartwarming event given the circumstances. It's believed the dog had entered its crate where it was found, likely scared which probably ended up saving its life. Another great job done by Lawrence firefighters and their mutual aid partners in controlling the fire spread and ending it on a high note, for at least one homeowner.