Stevens Street fire in Haverhill, MA

Late afternoon on Sunday September 20th, 2017 was ordinary night for the Haverhill, MA fire department and its neighboring departments.

Around 5:20 p.m. they began receiving 911 calls reporting smoke coming from an abounded building on Stevens street.

The first arriving unit encountered a heavy smoke and fire condition coming from the building. Within minutes of their arrival the onsite commander request additional alarms be transmitted for additional equipment and manpower to the scene.

Around 5:25 the fire had reached a 3 alarm fire. By about 5:30 the onsite commander requested additional companies bring the response to a fifth alarm response with additional alarms being transmitted for coverage of the city; however; as those coverage assignment unit began to enter the city they were quickly diverted to the fire scene.

In the end the fire had reached a seven alarms bring in companies from Lawrence, Methuen, N. Andover, Andover, Boxford, W. Newbury, Lowell, Salem NH, Atkinson NH just to name some.

Additionally on scene where members from the Red Cross, Trinity Ambulance, York Maine SMART, Salvation Army, Worchester Special Box 4 and Rehab 5 providing canteen services to the fire fighters and police officers.

The Red Cross also assisted the local residences in the area with food, because power to the area had been shut off.

During the operations several roadways in the Lafayette Square area where closed, including Essex St., Hilldale Ave., Winter St., Hale St. and some other side streets.