LAWRENCE — Three buildings were heavily damaged and 51 residents displaced after Sunday’s five-alarm fire in the 400 block of Haverhill Street.
A man was immediately rescued from a third-floor window by arriving firefighters. Two pet cats and a lizard were also saved and no serious injuries occurred, Fire Chief Patrick Delaney said.
The fire is believed to have started outside the mixed use, multi-family apartment buildings, but the exact cause remained under investigation Monday by fire, police and the state fire marshal’s office.
While initially reported at 12:42 p.m. at 468 Haverhill St., the massive blaze kept firefighters at the scene well into Sunday night. Firefighters were posted there overnight as a precaution.
“It was a very labor intensive, smoldering, deep-seated fire,” Delaney said.
Lawrence firefighters were assisted by 22 area fire departments through the regional mutual aid response system.
The city’s senior center was opened Sunday as a temporary gathering spot for the fire victims. City employees coordinated with area nonprofits including the American Red Cross, Lazarous House and Heal Lawrence, a local charity that aids disaster victims, to help the displaced tenants.
Heal Lawrence is gathering donations and gift cards to help the fire victims with hotel stays and replacement of personal items. Some displaced residents were provided $100 Walmart gift cards, said Juan “Manny” Gonzalez, a Lawrence firefighter who co-founded Heal Lawrence.
Donations can be made through Heallawrence.org. Gift cards can be dropped off to Martha Velez at The Center and he can be reached 978-902-2336 for pickup, he said.
Gonzalez was pleased to hear at least one family from Haverhill Street had renter’s insurance. Heal Lawrence encourages all families and tenants in the city to obtain renter’s insurance, he said.
Rehab Five of Peabody came to the fire with cold drinks and other support items for first responders. A dozen pizzas were also delivered to the scene, a godsend for hardworking firefighters, Delaney said.
“Today’s five-alarm fire was a reminder of both the challenges our firefighters face and the strength of our community,” he wrote in a social media message on Sunday night. “I want to personally thank every member of the Lawrence Fire Department for your courage, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to protecting our city.”
First responders on Sunday afternoon essentially “took over” the parking lot at Haffner’s Gas Station and Car Wash at 469 Haverhill St.
“I need to thank them for that,” Delaney said while acknowledging a business operates there. “We were all over his property and we thank you.”
Although the fire was initially reported at 468 Haverhill St., at least two other buildings in the immediate area were heavily scorched and damaged by fire.
Both buildings at 468-474 Haverhill St. and next door at 464-466 Haverhill St. were built about 1920. The owners are listed as Natasha and Chodhori Haskaj of Woburn, according to city assessing records.
Firefighter Dan Sirois rescued the man trapped in a third floor apartment Sunday. He was among the first to arrive at the fire with Lt. Dan Sanzi and Firefighter Luis Nova on Ladder 5 on group 2 of the Lawrence Fire Department.
The rescued man was not seriously injured.
A giant black plume of smoke was visible from Interstate 495 as well as the Merrimack River in Methuen where boaters were enjoying Sunday’s 80-degree, sunny weather.
“While many families are facing unimaginable loss tonight, I am incredibly grateful that there was no loss of life,” Lawrence Mayor Brian DePena said in a statement released late Sunday night.
“I want to thank every firefighter, police officer, emergency medical responder, city employee, volunteer, community partner, and neighbor who stepped forward to help.”
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