Massachusetts Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan.
Four juveniles have been arrested and are facing arson charges in connection with the Sunday evening mill fire at the former site of Hudson Machinery Company, 14-30 Stevens St., Haverhill.
The four juveniles, two 15-year olds and two, ages 14 and 16, are being charged with burning of a building and will be arraigned in juvenile session at Lawrence District Court, according to state Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan.
“This case has come to a swift and successful conclusion because of good old-fashioned police work among a number of agencies and importantly, assistance from the community,” Coan said in a written statement.
“The Haverhill police department is very grateful and proud of the dedicated men and women from the various law enforcement and fire agencies that acted as a cohesive team in solving this complex case,” said Haverhill Police Detective Captain Robert P. Pistone.
The fire started around 5 p.m., Sunday and quickly grew in the abandoned mill to eight alarms. Firefighters from Haverhill and 18 other communities from the region provided mutual aid to the Haverhill fire department and spent Sunday night through Monday evening putting out hot spots. The building is a total loss.
“Fighting fires in these vacant mills are extremely dangerous. Without sprinklers to control these fires, they get a huge head start and are fueled by oils that have soaked into the floor boards for decades,” said interim Haverhill Fire Chief John Parow.
The fire was investigated by members of the Haverhill fire and police departments, state police assigned to the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The case will be prosecuted by Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett’s office. A state hazardous material team responded to monitor air quality and water run-off from suppression efforts.
If these kids were smart they’d ask for the same punishment that the 30 Haverhill fire fighters got a couple of years ago when they were caught conspiring with each other to steal over $55,000.00 from the taxpayers of the city.
Only one of them was fired by the brain dead liberal mayor.