Lawrence, Massachusetts Firefighters under the command of Deputy Chief Bergeron responded at 1202 hours to a three alarm fire located at 54 - 56 Haverhill Street.
The main fire building was in a 30 by 60 OMD with exposures located on the C side, C/D corner, and D side.
The first exposure on the C side is four feet from the main fire building; this building was a three story 30 by 40 OMD. On the C/D corner, there was an additional three story OMD of the same size. On the D exposure there was a 30 by 50 three story OMD, which was also four feet from the main fire building.
Firefighters where presented with heavy fire conditions on arrival and set up aerial operations along with several handlines to prevent extension to any of the exposures. Exposure 1 on the C side of the building sustained heavy fire and smoke damage along with the main fire building.
No injuries where reported and mutual aid was provided by Andover, North Andover, Lowell, Methuen, and Salem, New Hampshire. North Andover stood by as the RIT team.
Due to the size of the size of the fire buildings 30 to 40 people were left homeless due to the fire. The American Red Cross set up a shelter in a local school to provide for the displaced residents.
Units remained on scene into the night wetting down hot spots.
The fire is under investigation by the Lawrence Fire Department Investigation unit.
