A THREE-ALARM fire destroyed a house located at 5 Stafford Rd. on March 7. (Tim Gorman/TMGorman Photography)
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — A three-alarm fire destroyed a Stafford Road home on Thursday, March 7.
Fire Chief/Emergency Management Director Glenn Davis informed the Villager that public safety dispatchers received a call for a garage fire at 5 Stafford Rd. at 8:11 p.m. Davis and Engine 1 arrived at the scene shortly after Lynnfield Police.
“It’s a large two-and-a-half story wood frame house,” said Davis. “The garage and rear of the house were well involved in fire. Engine 1 made a quick initial attack after arriving at the scene. I immediately transmitted a second alarm to start mutual departments for assistance.”
Davis said the fire quickly spread to the basement, attic and across the house.
“I requested a third alarm for additional fire companies at 8:28 p.m.,” said Davis. “With heavy fire conditions throughout the structure, I pulled all of the crews out of the building and we went into defensive operations.”
Davis said pumping water was “a little bit of an issue because Stafford Road is a long dead-end with a cul-de-sac.”
“There was only so much water we could get,” said Davis. “I called the Lynnfield Water District, and they increased the pressure to help us. However, we struggled getting the water that we needed to put out the fire.”
Davis said the Lynn, North Reading, Middleton, Peabody, Reading, Saugus, Stoneham and Wakefield Fire Departments assisted the Lynnfield Fire Department with extinguishing the inferno. He said the Danvers, Lynn and Melrose Fire Departments provided station coverage during the blaze.
“The additional alarms brought mutual aid assistance from several surrounding communities,” said Davis. “Atlantic Ambulance provided backup ambulance coverage and Rehab Five provided firefighter rehab services at the scene.”
Davis said the Stafford Road home’s residents and the family dog “were able to exit the house without any injuries.”
“They have been displaced from their home due to the smoke, water and fire damage,” said Davis. “The fire is being investigated by the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal’s Office.”
The house is a total loss.
While Davis said the fire’s cause remains under investigation, he said an electric vehicle did not cause it as some have alleged on-line.
“There were no electric vehicles in the building,” said Davis.
Davis stayed at the scene for the entire night.
