(File photograph.)
A fire in an outdoor trash container Tuesday night on Washington Street displaced residents of two apartments when sprinklers activated.
Haverhill firefighters responded to a report of fire in a trash container about 7 p.m., outside a 12-unit apartment building at 217 Washington St., said Fire Chief William F. Laliberty. He said the fire damaged a wooden window frame on the first floor, activating sprinklers.
“The sprinkler did its job protecting occupants of the building,” Laliberty told WHAV. Residents of the two bottom apartments had not been able to return home as of Wednesday afternoon, he said.
City records describe the brick building as having been constructed about 1910.
The chief said the cause of the fire is under investigation.