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Firefighters in Lawrence, Massachusetts, battled a fire that reached seven alarms in multiple three-decker homes on Crosby Street Friday night.The fire, which started just before 10 p.m. Friday, had spread to as many as five nearby buildings in the neighborhood. Lawrence Fire Chief Brian Moriarty said the fire appeared to have started in the rear of 22-24 Crosby St. and spread to multiple surrounding buildings.The deputy fire chief told NewsCenter 5 Saturday morning that the fire started in the third-floor deck area in the back of 22-24 Crosby St.Video and photos from the scene showed fire had engulfed the roof of at least one of the multi-family homes and spread to nearby buildings. “We have five buildings with fire damage,” Moriarty said. “We have a number of buildings with exposure damage.”Two buildings on Salem Street also caught fire, Moriarty said.”It went up really quick,” one nearby resident said. “It was the most scariest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”Firefighters from multiple nearby communities joined Lawrence firefighters at the scene battling the flames.First responders went door-to-door to check on the status of nearby neighbors.”Thank God that all the firefighters came along,” the neighbor said. “I just hope everyone’s okay. I hope everyone is safe and no one got hurt.”Winds gusting to 25-30 mph made battling the intense flames, and preventing them from spreading, difficult for firefighters.”There were water issues, but we also had five buildings on fire, not one. So we went to tower ladders. You can only get so much water out of one hydrant,” Moriarty said.Thick smoke surrounded much of the neighborhood as dozens of firefighters worked to knock down the fire, as onlookers watched from a distance. There were no injuries reported to any firefighters, the fire chief said. Every person who lived inside of the buildings was accounted for, he added. A total of 16 families were evacuated from the scene and taken to a senior center that was setup as a temporary shelter, Moriarty said.The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services, also known as the State Fire Marshal’s Office, had investigators from its fire and explosion investigation unit heading to the scene to investigate, which officials say is standard procedure.The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
LAWRENCE, Mass. —
Firefighters in Lawrence, Massachusetts, battled a fire that reached seven alarms in multiple three-decker homes on Crosby Street Friday night.
The fire, which started just before 10 p.m. Friday, had spread to as many as five nearby buildings in the neighborhood.
Lawrence Fire Chief Brian Moriarty said the fire appeared to have started in the rear of 22-24 Crosby St. and spread to multiple surrounding buildings.
The deputy fire chief told NewsCenter 5 Saturday morning that the fire started in the third-floor deck area in the back of 22-24 Crosby St.
Video and photos from the scene showed fire had engulfed the roof of at least one of the multi-family homes and spread to nearby buildings.
“We have five buildings with fire damage,” Moriarty said. “We have a number of buildings with exposure damage.”
Two buildings on Salem Street also caught fire, Moriarty said.
“It went up really quick,” one nearby resident said. “It was the most scariest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Firefighters from multiple nearby communities joined Lawrence firefighters at the scene battling the flames.
First responders went door-to-door to check on the status of nearby neighbors.
“Thank God that all the firefighters came along,” the neighbor said. “I just hope everyone’s okay. I hope everyone is safe and no one got hurt.”
Winds gusting to 25-30 mph made battling the intense flames, and preventing them from spreading, difficult for firefighters.
“There were water issues, but we also had five buildings on fire, not one. So we went to tower ladders. You can only get so much water out of one hydrant,” Moriarty said.
Thick smoke surrounded much of the neighborhood as dozens of firefighters worked to knock down the fire, as onlookers watched from a distance.
There were no injuries reported to any firefighters, the fire chief said. Every person who lived inside of the buildings was accounted for, he added.
A total of 16 families were evacuated from the scene and taken to a senior center that was setup as a temporary shelter, Moriarty said.
The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services, also known as the State Fire Marshal’s Office, had investigators from its fire and explosion investigation unit heading to the scene to investigate, which officials say is standard procedure.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.