Peabody firefighters battle large blaze

PEABODY – Peabody firefighters responded to an aggressive blaze on the second floor of a colonial style two-family home at 20 Jill’s Way that broke out at approximately 2:45 p.m. Friday. Safety issues were immediately raised over possible storage of floor-finishing and other hazardous chemicals that were said to be kept on the premises and onlookers were kept at bay.Within minutes, with smoke and fire reported showing on the rooftop of the two and half-story wooden structure, a second alarm was struck and a third sounded at 3:08 p.m. with a call for additional manpower. By 4 p.m. a call went out for all firefighters to evacuate the building but no injuries had been reported.Firefighters on the first apparatus to arrive on scene connected a ladder pipe to douse the building from above while others scrambled to locate the nearest hydrants to feed the pumpers. The structure was reported as “fully involved” before 3 p.m. but mutual aid from Lynn and other communities was sent home by 5 p.m. as Peabody firefighters remained on scene mopping up and keeping a fire watch.Jill’s Way is a small cul-de-sac off Grandview Avenue just off Route 114. It appeared much of the second floor of the large home, that was tucked between two nearly identical properties, was gone and the siding had clearly melted in a number of places.Police established a perimeter around the fire scene, standing by in case drifting smoke required a neighborhood evacuation.The cause of the blaze is unknown.