Danvers - 2nd Alarm, Lawrence Street 1/16/08

At approximately 2:40 pm Danvers firefighters responded to a telephone alarm reporting smoke coming from the roof of a home on Lawrence st. Crews arrived to find smoke issuing from the eaves of the home, Danvers Engine 2 was called to the scene to supplement the inital response. Upon entering the building to initiate an interior attack, firefighters with a thermal imaging camera had discovered the fire had begun in the basement and was burning in the walls all around them.

A Beverly Engine arrived at the scene not long after as the rapid intervention company, but was soon put to work. An evacuation was ordered and crews began to focus on defensive operations. A 2nd alarm was ordered and Danvers Engine 1 which was out of service for unknown reasons was brought to the scene along with Middleton Engine 1. For the next hour a portable gun, a ladder pipe and several handlines operated on the fire. Firefighters later vented the attic and opened exterior walls to get at stubborn pockets of fire that continued to burn. Both floors and the attic suffered extensive fire, smoke and water damage. Unfortunately, it was discovered after the fire was knocked down, that there were two occupants home at the time of the fire, who were unable to escape. A man and a woman both in their 50's perished in the fire, likely due to smoke inhalation.

Apparatus Response:
Initial Response: Danvers Engines 2,3,4, Rescue 1
Working Fire: Beverly Engine 5, Beverly C1, Danvers C1
2nd Alarm: Danvers Engine 1, Middleton Engine 1
Special Call Over 2nd: Danvers Squad 1 (To refill bottles)
Additional Resources: Rehab 5, Danvers Police, Lyons Ambulance
Station Coverage: Topsfield Engine 2, Salem Engine 2, Peabody Ladder 1


Firefighters just beginning exterior operations after evacuating the building.


Two firefighters operating a handline in the driveway on the delta side.


A bystander who is also an off duty firefighter assists a Danver firefighter with a stubborn hydrant.


Heavy fire and smoke vent from the second story windows.


A handline quickly quells the visible fire from the second story window.


Two Danvers Jakes talking strategy outside the building.


A Danvers firefighter operates a handline on the delta side of the house in the driveway.


Several firefighters stop to take a breather.


The black smoke turns to white as crews begin to gain control of the fire.


Chief Tutko talks with his deputy


Firefighters climb Engine 3's stick to open up the attic.


A firefighter operates a handline near the A-D corner.

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