Aaron Curtis – The Sun, Lowell, Mass.
BILLERICA — A massive five-alarm fire tore through an abandoned commercial building in Billerica on Saturday afternoon, reducing the structure located behind 1800 Iron Horse Park to smoldering rubble.
The blaze, which spread to nearby utility vehicles and ignited brush fires in the surrounding area, required a large-scale response from firefighters throughout the region.
The cause of the blaze is under investigation.
The first report of the fire on Iron Horse Park — spanning a 533-acre industrial complex off High Street — was announced over the emergency radio broadcast at approximately 3:20 p.m.
Rich MacDonald, a Tewksbury resident who captured photos of the intense blaze, said the building was fully involved when he arrived. He said firefighters were stretching lines and cutting fences to gain access to the flames.
“The fire was wind driven and was in an advanced state upon their arrival,” MacDonald said.
Speaking to the press at around 6:45 p.m., Billerica Fire Chief Robert Cole noted that the structure fire was contained, but they were still trying to chase down brush fires “that were spotty and extensive.” Cole noted that, due to the heavy winds, the brush fires had popped up across the train track to the east of the building fire, moving in the direction of Pond Street.
In addition to the windy conditions, Cole said that the delayed notification of the fire was a major challenge in fighting the flames, noting that the fire had been burning for some time before crews arrived on the scene.
Cole also pointed out that issues with the water supply further complicated the battle.
“This isn’t an area of town where the water is maintained as well as we want it to be, so it’s a long supply line that we had to work with,” Cole said.
One of the hose lines ran from the corner of High Street and Iron Horse Park to the area of the fire, which is a distance of over a quarter mile.
Cole described Iron Horse Park as “kind of off the beaten path.” The industrial complex, a former railway and manufacturing hub, is dotted with abandoned buildings similar to the one destroyed in the fire. In contrast, 1800 Iron Horse Park houses a newer building operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority as the MBTA Iron Horse Park Operations Control Center.
When asked by the press whether the fire appeared to be intentionally set or accidental, Cole stated that it was too early to determine.
“We are still in the active firefighting mode right now,” Cole said. “We do have our investigators down here, but I haven’t had a chance to talk to them yet.”
The MBTA Transit Police were present at the scene, tasked with handling any potential criminal investigation as the MBTA owns the property where the fire occurred. A spokesperson for the agency stated on Saturday night that additional time would be needed to investigate the incident.
According to Cole, one firefighter sustained a very minor injury caused by the debris scattered across the scene. He emphasized that it was nothing to be concerned about.
Cole added that firefighters intended to stay on-site throughout the night, into Sunday, to monitor and address any hotspots that might emerge from the smoldering rubble.
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