LYNN — A five-alarm fire blazed in Lynn Friday night, causing the collapse of a building and leaving 18 people without a home.
The fire, which began at 8:22 p.m. on Friday, went from from 60 Estes St. to 10 Chestnut Street. Six Lynn fire engines and three Lynn truck companies arrived to fight the flames.
The mutual aide was provided by Saugus, Salem, Peabody, Lynnfield, Melrose, Swampscott, Marblehead, Revere, Chelsea, and Boston, according to the Lynn Fire Department. There were 60+ personnel on the scene, 35 of them being from Lynn’s department.
Engine Co. 5 Captain Kevin Downey was first on the scene, reporting smoke coming from a window, and a working fire was ordered at 8:26 p.m.
District Chief Robert McIntosh was the incident commander for the fire and ordered a second-alarm fire at 8:31 p.m., bringing more engines over to try and put the fire out. McIntosh would quickly make the call for a five-alarm fire at 8:47 p.m. as the neighborhood was evacuated.
Firefighters were dealing with 20-mile-per-hour winds and burning power lines, which made the fire even harder to battle.
Iglesia Evangelica Congregacional church, which was built in 1938, had also caught fire from the original building. Due to the structural damage to the building, the church would collapse as firefighters managed to contain the flames.
Due to 18 people being displaced, The Red Cross was notified, and the Salvation Army, along with Atlantic EMS, provided rehab for the firefighters.
According to the Lynn Fire Department, companies stayed on the scene overnight to wet down hotspots. One occupant from the building where the fire began was transported for evaluation. The fire remains under investigation by the Lynn Fire Investigation Unit and Massachusetts State Police.
Mayor Jared C. Nicholson put out a statement saying, “Thank you to the Lynn Fire Department, all of the mutual aid, Lynn Police Department, and other first responders for the incredible effort last night. I am sorry to those residents who have been displaced, as well as to the congregation of Iglesia Evangelicala Congregacional. Thank you also to the Salvation Army, Red Cross, and MBTA for all the support. Our team at City Hall will work with our partners to continue to support the affected residents. This was an extremely dangerous situation with very challenging conditions and our firefighters’ bravery and expertise was amazing in keeping everyone safe and the fire ultimately contained.”
