Multiple Alarm Fire Destroys Large Condo Complex In Peabody Massachusetts

[WellInvolved.net]

Late in the afternoon of 5-29 firefighters were dispatched to The Highlands At Dearborn Condos on Dearborn Avenue Off Route 1 for a possible building fire. A fourth alarm was transmitted shortly after arrival with heavy smoke and fire from a 1500 x 175 4.5 story woodframe. a defensive operation began due to progression of fire and multiple exposures being threatened. Multiple special calls were sounded over the fourth alarm bringing in multiple mutual aid companies from the surrounding area. After multiple lines were stretched in a water supply problem was discovered and command requested mulitple tankers to be brought in, One of the exposure buildings of similar size became involved and heavy banking smoke forced the shut down of Route 95. A estimated 900 residents were sent to a shelter in a nearby town as hundreds of firefighters battled the fire. This Is the second fire at the complex in March 2007 a fire destroyed two apartments before being extinguished, todays fire destroyed the building and burned into the night.