The Haverhill Fire Department knocked down three overlapping fires Sunday afternoon—two blamed on improper disposal of smoking materials—causing the destruction of a garage in one blaze and heavily damaging a connected home.
Fire Chief Robert M. O’Brien said the last in the chain of fires proved to be the most challenging. The call came in at about 3:30 p.m. at a two-family home with attached garage at 663 Riverside Ave. near the Groveland Bridge. O’Brien said the fire started along a run of stairs between the two buildings and was fueled by wicker furniture stored below and fanned by “whipping” winds.
“The fire also got into the main building, burned in, so our crews had to go in and pull ceilings and chase it into the walls. We got it pretty much contained to the right side of the building,” the chief told WHAV.
Haverhill Fire Department’s Ladder 1 and Rescue 1 arrived first since its Engine 2 was still tied up at a brush fire. O’Brien said the garage was ordered demolished because of the extensive damage, but the main two-family home appears to be salvageable. The fire appears to have been caused by improper disposal of smoking materials. City records show the two-family property is owned by Robert B. and Antonia Trousdell.
Haverhill police detoured traffic around the area during the duration of firefighting activities near the Route 97 bridge, known formally as the Congressman William H. Bates Veterans Memorial Bridge.
O’Brien said the quick succession of fires began with a call at 1:08 p.m., for 46 Fernald St., just off Boardman Street. The chief said improper disposal of smoking material caught the right side of the building. Engine 3 out of Water Street was the first to arrive and firefighters were able to quickly contain the fire to a porch. Records show the home is owned by Changkun and Chong Moon.
Engine 3 was again dispatched shortly thereafter to a brush fire at 26 Barberry Lane. It was joined by Engine 2 out of the 16thAvenue station. The chief said the cause appeared to be outdoor burning.
O’Brien said all three fires were preventable and issued a warning to the public.
“People have to be aware of the conditions in which they’re working. No burning. Be very careful again with the—both fires, the structure fires, were attributed to improper disposal of smoking materials.”