LYNN — Off-duty Nahant Firefighter Robert Barreda spotted flames coming from 56 Essex St. Wednesday morning and rushed into the building to help 13 residents flee safely from the blaze.
Lynn and Nahant firefighters praised Barreda’s actions. Barreda called emergency 911 to report the fire before running into the building to rescue residents.
Turnier Larrieux, a 56 Essex St. second-floor tenant, said he safely fled the fire with his wife after a smoke alarm and a knock on his door alerted him.
“By the time I opened the door, there was already smoke,” Larrieux said.
Fire Chief Stephen Archer said arriving firefighters found flames engulfing the rear of the three-story building and positioned equipment on Williams Avenue, Essex Street and Eastern Avenue to begin pouring water on the fire.
Archer quickly struck a second and third alarm and police closed the Essex and Eastern intersection to traffic.
First-floor resident Yadira Peguero was getting her children dressed when she heard a smoke alarm.
“I opened the back door and a neighbor screamed, ‘Get out,'” she said.
Six adults and seven children safely left the house. Firefighters from Chelsea, Swampscott, Malden, Saugus and Marblehead helped Lynn crews bring the fire under control by 10:41 a.m., according to Capt. Joseph Zukas. The fire was declared out by 11:28 a.m.
Archer said improper disposal of smoking material on the second-floor rear porch likely started the fire. Pending a declaration by city inspectors, he said the building is probably a total loss.
The fire damaged siding on at least one neighboring building.
Peguero said she planned to stay with her mother Wednesday night. Other residents received vouchers for temporary housing from the American Red Cross.
City records list George C. Banos as the owner of the property. The building has no history of fire violations, according to Fire Lt. Edward Whittier.
The Essex Street fire was the second this week in Lynn. A suspected electrical fire on Monday damaged an 18-unit apartment building at 87 Park St.
Item reporter Gayla Cawley contributed to this report.Thor Jourgensen can be reached at [email protected].
