ITEM PHOTO BY ADAM SWIFT
PEABODY — Firefighters battled a three-alarm fire at an industrial building on 2 Fifth St. Tuesday.
Crews responded to a call about heavy smoke at Lifoam Industries LLC. shortly before 3:30 p.m., according to Peabody Fire Chief Steve Pasdon.
“There was heavy, heavy black smoke when we got here, and we were not able to determine if there was a fire,” he said. After a short time on the scene, Pasdon said firefighters determined that there was heavy fire as well as smoke.
Lifoam employees were evacuated from the building and no one was injured, the chief said.
As of 5 p.m., crews had not extinguished the fire. In addition to the flames and smoke, firefighters dealt with wind, high temperatures, and a possible hazmat situation caused by burning styrofoam products at the single-story building. There was also a partial roof collapse caused by the extreme temperatures.
Pasdon said there were as many as 50 firefighters, including crews from surrounding communities on the scene.
Just before 5 p.m., the Lifoam employees were allowed to return to the parking lot to get their vehicles.
Lifoam manufactures foam coolers, drink holders, and pool noodles, among other products.
