Lawrence, MA 4th Alarm - IAO 29 Summer St - 8/25/16
Lawrence firefighters were alerted to a possible building fire, via a single 911 call, in the area of 31 Summer St around 02:20 hours. Engines 5, 6, 7, Ladder 5, Rescue 1 and C21 Deputy Kevin Loughlin were dispatched.
Engine 6 arrived to a vacant dwelling at 29 Summer St fully involved. Several large buildings including a large 2.5 on the B side and a 3 decker on the D side were severely exposed to the flames. A second alarm was requested as the fire rapidly advanced thru the original fire building and began extending to multiple structures. Firefighters took a defensive posture right from the beginning to in an attempt to knock down the heavy fire as quickly as possible. Heavy overlaping fire extended in the attic area of the B side exposure and a 3rd alarm was requested by Chief of Department Brian Moriarty. The fire by this time had advanced into 4 exposures in the tightly packed neighborhood. Mutual aid companies arriving were quickly put to work with big lines, ladder pipes and deck guns. The need for even more manpower was evident with the volume of fire expanding, prompting a request for a 4th alarm by Chief Moriarty.
Due to a tremendously aggressive defensive attack, fire crews were able to gain the upper hand on the fire in all buildings and prevent the fire from extending to any additional structures in the neighborhood. The fire , as said, originated in a 1.5 story wood frame that was vacant but known to the fire department and inflectional services as a problem property with numerous small fires, squatters having been an issue there in the recent past.
All told, 7 buildings were effected by the fire in some way either directly by fire or cosmetically by the heat from the fire. Firefighters from Methuen, Dracut, Lowell, Andover, North Andover, Haverhill, Salem NH, North Reading Danvers and Middleton assisted Lawrence crews at the scene with coverage provided by Lowell, Reading, Billerica and Wilmington.
On a side note, as many already know, I pulled a complete rookie move at this fire. I had taken my cameras in the house for a firmware update. When I left the house to the fire, I forgot the camera case and didnt know it until I reached the scene. I stayed for a bit to get a few video clips, stills and periscope from my cell phone before going back home for the cameras. I could have and SHOULD have done better but considering I left and came back, I dont think I did TOO bad!!
Read MoreEngine 6 arrived to a vacant dwelling at 29 Summer St fully involved. Several large buildings including a large 2.5 on the B side and a 3 decker on the D side were severely exposed to the flames. A second alarm was requested as the fire rapidly advanced thru the original fire building and began extending to multiple structures. Firefighters took a defensive posture right from the beginning to in an attempt to knock down the heavy fire as quickly as possible. Heavy overlaping fire extended in the attic area of the B side exposure and a 3rd alarm was requested by Chief of Department Brian Moriarty. The fire by this time had advanced into 4 exposures in the tightly packed neighborhood. Mutual aid companies arriving were quickly put to work with big lines, ladder pipes and deck guns. The need for even more manpower was evident with the volume of fire expanding, prompting a request for a 4th alarm by Chief Moriarty.
Due to a tremendously aggressive defensive attack, fire crews were able to gain the upper hand on the fire in all buildings and prevent the fire from extending to any additional structures in the neighborhood. The fire , as said, originated in a 1.5 story wood frame that was vacant but known to the fire department and inflectional services as a problem property with numerous small fires, squatters having been an issue there in the recent past.
All told, 7 buildings were effected by the fire in some way either directly by fire or cosmetically by the heat from the fire. Firefighters from Methuen, Dracut, Lowell, Andover, North Andover, Haverhill, Salem NH, North Reading Danvers and Middleton assisted Lawrence crews at the scene with coverage provided by Lowell, Reading, Billerica and Wilmington.
On a side note, as many already know, I pulled a complete rookie move at this fire. I had taken my cameras in the house for a firmware update. When I left the house to the fire, I forgot the camera case and didnt know it until I reached the scene. I stayed for a bit to get a few video clips, stills and periscope from my cell phone before going back home for the cameras. I could have and SHOULD have done better but considering I left and came back, I dont think I did TOO bad!!
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