Northbridge, MA ~ Police officers arrived first at 607-09 Church Street around 2345hrs on 23º degree temperature night on St. Patrick’s Day and reported heavy fire showing from the rear of an occupied 2.5sty dwelling. There was heavy fire in the basement that was venting out of the basement door. A carport was built on the rear of the house that seemed to keep the fire from spreading up the exterior wall.
A second alarm was sounded as the apparatus arrived on scene. The extra alarm brought in an Uxbridge engine, ladder, and chief. The first due companies stretched in attack and back up lines and quickly knocked the bulk of the fire down in 10 minutes. Firefighters continued to overhaul the basement and checking for extension to the upper floors.
Windows on the upper floors were opened to release the residual built up smoke. The smoke began to dissipate as the fire was looking to be under control. Walls on the first floor were opened and seemed to be clear of fire.
A moment later, smoke was beginning to push from the second and third floor on the Bravo & Charlie sides. The eaves and attic was also now beginning to show signs of charged smoke. Firefighters made their way to the areas of concern and began to open the walls to check for fire. There was now heavy smoke pushing and signs of fire traveling the balloon-framed walls up to the sloped ceiling and attic of the 3rd floor.
The OIC pulled all firefighters outside due to the deteriorating conditions. Ladder 1’s crew readied themselves for roof venting on the Alpha side. They made the roof and began to make the cut as heavy smoke overlapped out of the front windows. Heavy fire was now venting from the roofline on the Bravo side. The fire was puffing from the eaves as it rolled through the knee walls.
Exterior lines were played into the upper window openings to try to get a hold on the blaze. Northbridge Ladder 1 set up their waterway on the Bravo side driveway and played their stream into the roof. Uxbridge Ladder 1 took a position in the Delta exposure’s driveway and also put their pre piped stream into the roof.
The fire was now taking control of the entire 3rd floor and attic. Heavy streams played into the building from all sides and eventually quelled the blaze. Uxbridge moved their ladder to side A in order to have firefighters attempt to hit hot spots from the stick. Overhauling continued for hours to find all of the hidden hot spots.
Five people were left homeless as a result of this fire. The building appears to be a total loss. The cause was not determined as of yet.
A second alarm was sounded as the apparatus arrived on scene. The extra alarm brought in an Uxbridge engine, ladder, and chief. The first due companies stretched in attack and back up lines and quickly knocked the bulk of the fire down in 10 minutes. Firefighters continued to overhaul the basement and checking for extension to the upper floors.
Windows on the upper floors were opened to release the residual built up smoke. The smoke began to dissipate as the fire was looking to be under control. Walls on the first floor were opened and seemed to be clear of fire.
A moment later, smoke was beginning to push from the second and third floor on the Bravo & Charlie sides. The eaves and attic was also now beginning to show signs of charged smoke. Firefighters made their way to the areas of concern and began to open the walls to check for fire. There was now heavy smoke pushing and signs of fire traveling the balloon-framed walls up to the sloped ceiling and attic of the 3rd floor.
The OIC pulled all firefighters outside due to the deteriorating conditions. Ladder 1’s crew readied themselves for roof venting on the Alpha side. They made the roof and began to make the cut as heavy smoke overlapped out of the front windows. Heavy fire was now venting from the roofline on the Bravo side. The fire was puffing from the eaves as it rolled through the knee walls.
Exterior lines were played into the upper window openings to try to get a hold on the blaze. Northbridge Ladder 1 set up their waterway on the Bravo side driveway and played their stream into the roof. Uxbridge Ladder 1 took a position in the Delta exposure’s driveway and also put their pre piped stream into the roof.
The fire was now taking control of the entire 3rd floor and attic. Heavy streams played into the building from all sides and eventually quelled the blaze. Uxbridge moved their ladder to side A in order to have firefighters attempt to hit hot spots from the stick. Overhauling continued for hours to find all of the hidden hot spots.
Five people were left homeless as a result of this fire. The building appears to be a total loss. The cause was not determined as of yet.
Ken LaBelle
Capt Town of Lincoln Fire/Rescue 4
NRIFirePhotos.com
Capt Town of Lincoln Fire/Rescue 4
NRIFirePhotos.com
Facebook
Google
Reddit
Twitter