Description Of Incident:
Around 02:00 Monday morning, a passing ambulance in the City Of Lawrence passed by a vacant Nightclub That was heavily involved in fire on floors 2 and 3. On arrival of the fire department 5 Buildings all in close proximity to each other were involved in a heavy fire condition that took hold of the large 3 story building at the corner of Parker and Market Streets and quickly extended to Springfield street. A 3rd alarm was transmitted As Multiple exposures became involved and on this very cold morning, attention quickly switched to saving the neighborhood with many more residential and commercial buildings threatened. Eventually a 5th Alarm was sounded with multiple special calls equivelent to a 10th alarm. Telephone poles, street lights, buildings, vehicles and electrical wires burned while the large firestorm took hold of the buildings at the corner. As Multiple Buildings started to collapse a heavy brand condition rose from the fire scene setting more vehicles and buildings on fire. Multiple residents were evacuated from their homes and were sheltered at a nearby location in town. Multiple mutual aid from Massachusetts and New Hampshire responded. Eventually 26 occupied apartments, 2 vacant dwellings, Garages, sheds, and 2 large commercial buildings were destroyed as the fire raced through the 16 buildings. Firefighters were also forced to wet down Engine 9 and move the snorkel to side 4 after side 1 collapsed and a radiant heat condition heated up the area ajacent to the scene. Firefighters made great progress on Springfield Street keeping the heavy overlapping fire from spreading to a large 3 decker and the 5 other buildings down the street. This was the second multiple alarm fire in about a week on January 13th A Large vacant church building on Park Street burned in a 5 alarm fire that extended to one occupied dwelling.
Address Of Incident:
Parker And Market Streets
Date: January 21st, 2008
PhotoStory:
Article Written By: Phil Sullivan
Photo's By: Phil Sullivan
Title: Volunteer Firefighter
Web site: www.wellinvolved.com
E-mail: pcfn112@yahoo.com