3-Alarm Fire Rips Through Lawrence Multi-Unit Building

LAWRENCE (CBS) -- A three-alarm blaze tore through a building at East Haverhill and Prospect Streets Tuesday afternoon, Lawrence Fire officials said.

The fire started in a five-unit residential building shortly after 1 p.m.

A building neighbor saw some of the destruction the fire caused.

"All I saw was a big ball of smoke and then the fire and I saw the roof come down," Julio Brito said.

WBZ-TV's Paul Burton reported that all occupants of the building got out safely. One firefighter was taken to the hospital with a minor injury.

Cell phone video showed the intensity of the blaze. At one point, firefighters discovered a mother on the third floor.

"We did find a woman on the right side of the house. Crews helped evacuate her out and then we continued with the firefighting effort. It's an old building, a balloon frame," Lawrence Fire Chief Brian Moriarty said.

Smoke and flames billowed out for hours as firefighters scrambled to contain it. One woman suffered a seizure outside and was transported to the hospital.

Lawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera commented on the neighborhood and damaged building.

"It's an important intersection in the city. It's a building I just got redone. It looked beautiful," Mayor Rivera said.

More than 20 people, most of them children, now find themselves without a home.

"I feel sad for them. I will try to help them. I live around here. They need help. The kids will need clothes."

The building is a total loss. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Read more
f

We and our partners use cookies to understand how you use our site, improve your experience and serve you personalized content and advertising. Read about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and how you can control them by clicking Manage Settings. By continuing to use this site, you accept these cookies.