Cause of four-alarm fire in Swampscott still unknown

SWAMPSCOTT – Officials continue to investigate a four-alarm fire Saturday afternoon that displaced two residents.Capt. James Potts, who was the officer in charge at the scene, said an area resident was driving by and noticed smoke coming from the home. The Good Samaritan drove to the fire station, which is just up the street, to report the fire.The fire broke out at about 2:46 p.m. at 108-110 Burrill St., a two-family home. According to town records the home belongs to Walter Herbert.Potts said flames were coming from the second floor when firefighters arrived at the home.”Flames were visible at the front of the building and on the left side,” he said. “There was quite a bit of smoke pouring out.”Potts said he rang four alarms due to the extreme heat, which made fighting the fire difficult. Teams were sent in for 15-20 minute stints.”They went in with a tank (of air) and came out when it was gone then they went to Rehab Five to get re-hydrated and cooled down,” he said. “Rehab Five (a non-profit organization that offers aid to firefighters at the scene) was a godsend.”Firefighters from Nahant, Lynn, Marblehead, Peabody, Lynnfield, Salem, Danvers, Beverly and Revere assisted at the scene. Middleton and Saugus firefighters covered the station.According to Potts, the first floor was vacant at the time of the fire and the upstairs residents were not home when the fire was reported.”The first floor tenant moved out a week or so ago,” he said. “There were two guys living on the second floor but they were not home at the time of the fire.”Potts said the fire is still under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s Office and it is too early in the investigation to speculate on the origin and cause of the fire.