Fire rips through home in Lawrence on Saturday

LAWRENCE, Mass. — A home in Lawrence is a total loss after a three-alarm fire burned through the second story of the building on Lawrence Street on Saturday.

The blaze consumed most the top floor and even shot through the roof at the building at 238 Lawrence St, leaving five people homeless. There were no reported injuries from the fire.

The building will have to be torn down within the next 24 hours as it is too dangerous to keep standing.

Five people lived in the building, which also housed two businesses on the first floor.

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One woman told Boston 25 News that she saw the flames starting on the back porch and called 911. She was surprised by how quickly the flames spread.

"It was a little bit, then it was burning big," said Yahaira Arais.

“We had a car blocking a hydrant, which blocked us from getting water from a hydrant rapidly,” said Chief Brian Moriarty of Lawrence Fire. “We also had some weather issues. It was extremely windy, the fire got into the building.”

There was some damage done to the apartment building next door, temporarily displacing the people who live there. They are expected to be able to return home.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Cox Media Group