Lightning early Friday night kicked off what became a three-alarm house fire in the western part of Haverhill.
There were no injuries as a result of the single-family, colonial home blaze that begin just after 6 p.m., at 18 Mahoney Way, off Route 97, but there was extensive damage reported. Haverhill Fire Chief Robert M. O’Brien told WHAV the storm and intensity of the fire caused a second alarm to be quickly struck by Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Akstin, and then a third, to secure mutual aid from nearby communities.
“That fire had a good start. It was clearly a freeburner when they got there. Their ability—I was very pleased with it. I can’t tell you how pleased I was with the result considering what could have happened to that house,” he said.
According to a preliminary investigation by Deputy Fire Chief Eric Tarpy, the chief said, the home is salvageable.
City records show the home is owned by Arthur and Cherise Gosselin.