Billerica 2nd on Georgianna Rd
Just around eight o’clock yesterday morning the superintendent for the Billerica grounds department called the 911 emergency line reporting a house fire 15 Georgianna road.
While the tones where dropping he kicked in the front door to see if anyone was inside but was pushed back by the heavy fire.
With urgency in her voice the dispatcher began rattling off the dispatch. Engine after engine began to sign on with sirens screaming in the background. “Dispatch to responding unit person on scene reporting house is fully involved!”
The responding officer prior to arrival of units requested the working fire assignment. Engine 4 stationed within a mile of the house on Salem road arrived in minutes to report heavy smoke showing, followed by a quick update of “We have heavy fire Bravo, Charlie basement!”
Before other units arrived Engine 4’s crew requested the senior officer to call for the 2nd alarm, which he did. When he arrived, he put out his size up and reported “… We’re defensive only, no chance at interior at this time!”
Crews battled the blaze from the exterior with several hand lines; however; this fire had ahold of the structure long before companies arrived and there was little that could be done to save the home.
With the surround and drown going companies had to lay in a couple hydrant lines from both ends of the street to keep up with the demand for water.
The scene became a hazard with the streets under the Firefighters feet freezing up, so DPW crews were called in to spread salt and sand.
Crews remained on scene for several hours dumping water onto hot spots.
Fortunately no one was home at the time of the fire needing to be rescued.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.