A five-alarm blaze erupted in Lawrence, Massachusetts, taking hold of multiple residential buildings and causing propane tanks to explode, authorities confirmed. Fire personnel were dispatched to the 300 block of Lowell Street after receiving several emergency calls yesterday afternoon, as reported by NewsCenter 5. The fire quickly spread, affecting a cluster of multi-family homes and one business, with two structures likely to be condemned.
Lawrence Fire Chief Pat Delaney said, "We had a lot of trapped fire up there. It was a tough, deep-seated, rooted fire," and the firefighting efforts were further hindered by high humidity levels that kept smoke low to the ground. Delaney also noted in a statement obtained by NewsCenter 5 that the blaze developed a lot of smoke. Despite reports of non-functional fire hydrants by residents, Chief Delaney explained that in incidents of large fires, the capacity of hydrants to deliver significant amounts of water can be challenged.
According to CBS News Boston, explosions from propane tanks were heard upon the arrival of emergency crews, and at least two firefighters had to be treated for heat exhaustion. "Our gear traps our heat. The men and women here worked very hard to save a lot of property," Chief Delaney explained. The fire resulted in the displacement of approximately 20 people, with local authorities such as MEMA, the American Red Cross, and the Lawrence Senior Center stepping in to provide temporary shelter.
Resident Jose Tenao, in an interview translated for NewsCenter 5, recounted being awoken by the heat from the fire, and resident Lisbeth Fernandes told CBS News Boston, "It's scary, it's scary, it really is." She was among those struggling to reach family members amidst the chaos of the scene. Investigators are currently working to ascertain the origin and cause of the fire that has wrought substantial damage to a once tranquil neighborhood in Lawrence.
