Peabody fire investigated

PEABODY – The state Fire Marshal’s Office joined the Peabody Fire Department in the investigation of a fire that broke out Wednesday at 20 Warren St.A resident of the home, identified as Adeyemi Lawrence, called 911 after observing heavy smoke in the basement shortly after 2:30 p.m., according to a police log.Engine 4 under the command of Lt. Tom Wynn was the first crew to arrive, according to Deputy Fire Chief Paul Hinchion.The fire was knocked down within a few minutes, but long enough for firefighters to request mutual aid from surrounding towns to man the Peabody fire stations.Hinchion said the fire started in the ceiling of the cellar and firefighters did a good job keeping it from spreading through the three-family home’s “balloon structure” – an obsolete way of building homes that neglects to have stops within walls to keep a fire from spreading.”They were able to get at it before it got through the walls,” Hinchion said. “They did a real good job.”The first floor apartment was unoccupied, but residents of the second and third floors were displaced, at least for Wednesday night, because of smoke damage, Hinchion said.”Fortunately it happened during the day when someone was home to call 911,” Hinchion said.The cause of the fire is under investigation.