HAVERHILL — A fast-moving two-alarm fire tore through a three-family home on Wednesday afternoon, displacing nine residents and dealing significant damage.
Fire Chief Robert O’Brien said a 911 call was received at about 3:47 p.m., reporting the fire at 13-15 Abbott St., in the Bradford neighborhood of Haverhill.
Crews from the Bradford Station were the first to arrive, followed by additional engines from Water Street and High Street stations.
“It was pretty aggressive,” O’Brien said. “It was a very labor-intensive fire.”
The blaze started on the rear deck of the second floor, quickly carrying to the third floor, engulfing its interior. Firefighters faced challenges accessing the top floor due to a partially blocked doorway on the second story.
O’Brien said that the crews had the fire under control within 40 to 45 minutes.
The rear deck of the second floor and the third floor both sustained extensive damage. The remainder of the building received water damage from the department’s efforts to extinguish the fire.
The chief reported that the incident was caused by improper disposal of smoking material, or cigarette, cigar, etc. This has become a recurring issue for Haverhill in recent months as a similarly-caused fire in October destroyed a two-family home on Riverside Avenue.
“Just be diligent about making sure anytime a smoking material is extinguished. It typically should be in water,” O’Brien said. “People will finish the cigarette, go back into the house, and a couple hours later the house is burning.”
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All residents were safely evacuated and uninjured. One firefighter sustained a minor muscle sprain but is expected to recover soon.
Firefighters remained on site throughout Wednesday night to prevent any secondary fires.
The Haverhill Building Department will assess the structure to determine what is salvageable. Its utilities have all been shut down given the condition of the building.
The Red Cross is providing temporary support to those affected by the incident.
Among the displaced residents is Monica Resendes and her 10-year-old son, who lost their home and belongings. Her sister launched a GoFundMe campaign, “Help Monica Rebuild After Fire Tragedy,” to assist them in their time of need.
“It was a traumatic experience for the individuals in the home during the incident trying to escape a house fire,” the Go Fund Me post reads. “Losing absolutely everything has left them in shambles especially right before the holidays.”
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