LOWELL -- The Fire Department's Engine 11 caught fire early Thursday morning inside the Lawrence Street firehouse and is out of commission at least temporarily, Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Winward told The Sun.
The fire, just after 1 a.m., caused extensive damage to the engine area beneath the truck and will be investigated, said Winward. All early indications are that the fire was accidental and likely electrical, said Winward.
The Lawrence Street firehouse hosts an engine company and a ladder company.
Those in the firehouse hooked a rope up to Engine 11 while it was on fire and Ladder 1 towed it outside, which prevented damage to the firehouse. The one-alarm fire was put out outside.
"It was a job well done by the Ladder 1 crew," Winward said.
The truck was towed downtown to the rear of the JFK Civic Center and the investigation into the fire will take several days, Winward said. The department will look into whether Engine 11 is salvageable.
The city has a spare truck it will use in place of Engine 11 for now, Winward said. Engine 11 was purchased by the city two years ago, he said.
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