An intense three-alarm fire engulfed a triple-decker home on Manchester Street in Lawrence, Massachusetts, prompting the evacuation of 18 individuals yesterday. According to the WCVB report, the fire originated in the attic of the wooden structure, and residents were already fleeing the premises as firefighters arrived.
"The fire was pretty much confined to the third floor," Lawrence Fire Chief Brian Moriarty told WCVB, noting the presence of women and children among those evacuating, some even carrying babies. Despite the freezing conditions and powerful winds, fire crews successfully contained the blaze to a single residence. "A house to the left is a one-story building the fire was on the top floor. That actually helped us so we didn’t have another three-decker or something next to where the wind would have pushed the fire right into that," Moriarty elaborated.
While there were no civilian casualties reported, one firefighter sustained an injury after slipping on ice and was subsequently hospitalized as mentioned in a Boston 25 News article. The circumstances leading to the fire and the reason for the high number of residents in the building are currently under investigation by authorities.
The incident not only displaced numerous residents but also led to a temporary power outage in the vicinity before the fire was reported in the attic apartment. "We want to see if any of that was illegal I know the basement one was," Moriarty voiced, emphasizing the safety and shelter of those affected as a top priority, according to WCVB. Though the cause of the fire remains undetermined at this time, it does not appear suspicious, according to the ongoing investigation.
