Lynn - 4th Alarm, Andrews Street 2/1/08

Around 2:20 pm Lynn firefighters responded to a report of a fire in a one story, 100 ft. x 50 ft. commercial building on Andrews st. in downtown Lynn. Crews were confronted with heavy fire in the garage area of a business that recycles cooking oil, grease and bone. A working fire was declared, and almost immediately after a 2nd alarm was ordered as well as an extra ladder company on the 2nd. A 3rd alarm was soon ordered as it became apparent that the three storefronts that were attached to this building were in imminent danger as smoke began pushing from their eaves as well.

Firefighters would spend the next several hours trying to contain the fire in the original business, which was made difficult due to it's lack of windows, and multiple voids between the ceiling and roof. Eventually in the evening the fire in the ceiling began to take off once again. Heavy fire burned through what was left of the roof, and breached the wall dividing the businesses. A law office, hearing aid company and a vacant shop were now involved as well. Lynn Tower Ladder 4 relocated to Central ave. and set up it's ladder pipe, Several other apparatus began to relocate to Central ave. as well. Around 1 am on February 2nd more than 11 hours after the box came in, a 4th alarm was ordered bringing 3 more engines and 1 ladder to the fire. Firefighters from Lynn and seven other communities continued fight this fire throughout the early morning hours. At around 5 am the fire was declared under control and mutual aid companies began making up. Lynn crews remained on scene with extensive overhaul and many hot spots to wet down. There were no injures reported, the original business and the three adjacent storefronts were all believed to be a total loss.

Apparatus Response:
Initial Response: Lynn Engines 3,1,5, Ladder 1, C4 (District Chief), H1 (Safety Officer)
Working Fire: Lynn Tower Ladder 4, Medic 1
2nd Alarm: Lynn Engines 10,7,1, Ladder 2
3rd Alarm: Swampscott Engine 21, Ladder 21, Salem Engine 4, Saugus Engine 1
4th Alarm: Marblehead Engine 2, Wakefield Engine 2, Revere Engine 5, Lynnfield Tower Ladder 1
Additional Resources: Rehab 5, Lynn Police, Atlantic Ambulance, Lynnfield Squad 4 (Lighting)
Station Coverage: Melrose Engine 3, Winthrop Engine 1, Lynnfield Engine 1, Peabody Engine 5, Malden Ladder 1, Revere Ladder 2


Lynn firefighters with two Blitzfire monitors operating at an overhead door on the Andrews st. side of the building.


Lynn Ladder 1's ladder pipe operating with two Lynn Jakes on the tip.


At times very heavy smoke completely obscured the 3 ladder pipes that were operating.


Heavy smoke pours from the front door as firefighters work to try and save the other businesses attached to the fire building.


Smoke pushes from the eaves of the fire building and the three adjacent storefronts. As the day turned to night, the fire would destroy these businesses as well.


The two Blitzfire monitors still operate on the overhead door as they would for several hours into the evening and early into the next day.

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