Heat Takes Toll On Lawrence Firefighters Battling Fast-Moving Blaze
LAWRENCE (CBS) - The smell of smoke brought Desiree Ortiz out of the pool. "It ended up blowing up into something bigger," said Ortiz.
She ran across High Street and took video as a fire on Prospect Street became an inferno. "Very hot, very hot," she said.
Lawrence firefighters dealt with the heat of the fast-moving fire on top of the air temperature that hit 96 degrees.
Lawrence General Hospital set up two rehab areas on-site for the firefighters.
"We set up misting fans, lots of water, cold towels," said Lawrence Fire Chief Brian Moriarty. "Now that they are away from high danger they'll take their coats off we'll rotate them through."
The chief says the fire started outside behind an abandoned house, that house and two garages were destroyed.
The fire temperature was so intense it melted the siding off three nearby homes. Firefighters from other cities were called in to make sure the heat did not take anyone out.
"Issues yes, injuries no," said Moriarty.
"It's very hot, with the fire, it's even hotter. They're amazing going in there with all this heat," said a neighbor.
The owner of the property said he was told a neighbor was burning something and an ember blew over to his house. The State Fire Marshal's office is investigating.