Story/Photos by Kevin Soucie

Worcester, MA firefighters responded to a two alarm fire at Albany & Lyons Streets at approximately 11:15pm on September 2, 2002 on Box 1437.

Upon the Chief's arrival, about 4 minutes after the initial alarm, a second alarm was struck. Police had checked the building but where unable to gain access to the third floor.

The first engine on arrival reported a 3 story wood frame 3rd floor fully involved. Firefighters encountered exposure problems with two 3 story wood frame houses being extremely close together.

Approximately 15 minutes into the incident the evacuation tones where sounded. At that time there where firefighters in the basement.

Firefighters used a two and a half inch hand line to keep the fire from spreading. Master Streams were used to knock down heavy fire in the main building.

The fire left the second floor heavily damaged and the third floor and roof area partially collapsed. Some fire damage did extend to the exposure of the other house.