Busy night in the Valley, and it started here!

Rob P.
Aug 12, 2020
2 min read

Around 18:40 (6:40 pm) Haverhill 911 received a 911 call reporting a fire at 8 Vine Street. It was initially dispatched as possible a shed fire next to a house. Crews arrived and found heavy fire in a structure next to the house which was quickly extending.

Crews began dragging the lines and throwing the sticks. The fire was moving quickly through the balloon framed structure. Interior companies advised the fire was running fast above their heads, they felt that it made the cock loft and had already overtaken the center of the building. They made an effort to knock it; but; command felt conditions where worsening and ordered the EVAC tones,

With the building dumped ladder pipes went into operation and a transition to big lines on the exterior.

It was now a surround and drown operation to put the wet stuff on the hot stuff; but; the fire building was not the only hot thing on scene with high temps. Command called for the DFS rehab unit to respond to the scene to help cool and hydrate the crews.

With the 2nd alarm called for almost right off the rip, crews from the Valley responded to the scene and to cover the City. This might of been the most critical move of the night, making sure the necessary apparatus and manpower was on scene

While crews where battling this blaze the City received numerous other calls, one of which was a potential HAZMAT situation.

And as the title says this was just the beginning. As crews where getting back to their towns and stations, as they got the hoses repacked on the rigs and the air bottles re-filled, as the REHAB rig replenished with ice and water the tones would drop in Lawrence bring all the same crews mutual aid there for a 2nd alarm fire.