A three-alarm inferno ripped through a long-abandoned mill on Stevens Street in Haverhill early Tuesday, throwing flames over the riverfront and shrouding parts of downtown in thick smoke. Fire crews from Haverhill and neighboring communities fought the stubborn blaze into the morning, and officials said no one was hurt.
Haverhill Fire Chief Christopher Cesati told WCVB that firefighters were dispatched shortly after a passerby spotted flames just after 3 a.m., and the response was quickly bumped up to three alarms as heavy fire tore through multiple floors. Cesati said the fire was deep seated and warned that crews would be chasing hot spots for days.
Fire Response and Damage
The burned structure, identified by city officials and local coverage as the long-vacant mill at 14 Stevens St. near Lafayette Square, suffered major structural damage and could be headed for demolition after inspections, according to WHAV. City building inspectors and an independent engineer are expected to determine whether the battered brick shell can be stabilized or has to come down.
State Investigators on Scene
The State Fire Marshal’s Office joined the response and, according to WCVB, deployed a drone to hunt for lingering hot spots across the sprawling complex. Officials said it is too early to pin down a cause, and investigators will comb through the scene once it is safe to enter.
Mutual Aid and Neighborhood Impact
With the mill buckling under the flames, Haverhill called in backup from surrounding communities, and crews from Georgetown, Groveland, Lawrence and Methuen joined local firefighters, NBC Boston reports. Streets around the mill were shut down early Tuesday while hose lines and ladder trucks filled the area, and residents described smoke drifting through nearby neighborhoods.
History of the Stevens Street Mills
The Stevens Street complex carries a long industrial past and a rough recent history. It was previously hit by a major fire in 2015 that resulted in arson charges, WHAV notes. That earlier blaze pushed the city to secure the vacant property, although sections of the large brick structure remained standing.
What’s Next
By sunrise, firefighters had knocked down the main body of the blaze but expected to stay on scene for several days to douse stubborn hot spots, The Boston Globe reported. Engineers and inspectors will decide whether any part of the damaged building can be saved or if a full teardown is in the cards. The State Fire Marshal’s Office will continue its investigation into the cause as the site is stabilized.
“The cloud of smoke was unreal,” a nearby resident told CBS Boston, summing up how the fire lit up the pre-dawn sky. City officials urged the public to steer clear of the area while emergency operations continue and said more information will be released as investigators work through the charred remains.
