Flames engulfed a Dracut apartment building earlier today, erupting into a three-alarm blaze that forced around 25 residents onto the streets. Firefighters raced against the clock to battle the inferno at 10 Pearl St., managing to subdue the fire and clear the building without a single injury, officials reported. According to a statement obtained by JGPR, the alarm came in at 12:16 a.m., with fire crews arriving to find flames bursting out of the front windows and door.
In an impressive show of skill, Dracut's Engine 3 quickly knocked down the fire, which was threatening to consume one of the building's 12 units. Initially, there was a report of an occupant trapped inside, but thankfully, it turned out to be a false alarm. Despite the lack of injuries, one apartment is now unlivable, and smoke damage has tainted the neighboring units. "We could be looking at a much different situation this morning without their quick work," Chief Richard Patterson remarked of his fire team's prompt and decisive action, as reported by JGPR.
Local residents were evacuated by around 12:30 a.m., a mere 14 minutes after the department's arrival, illustrating the swift and effective response to the crisis. Providing support on the scene were teams from Lowell, Methuen, Tyngsborough, and Pelham, N.H., with Lawrence, Nashua, N.H., and Salem, N.H., offering station coverage. The timely cooperation between these units was essential in diffusing an otherwise potentially disastrous event. Chief Patterson used the incident to remind folks of the importance of heeding the early sounds of fire alarms.
