For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Amesbury Firefighters Extinguish 3-Alarm Fire on Congress Street

AMESBURY — Fire Chief Kenneth E. Berkenbush reports that the Amesbury Fire Rescue Department quelled a three-alarm residential fire this afternoon where one occupant suffered minor injuries.

At 11:39 a.m., Amesbury Fire received a report of a fire at 82 Congress St. Upon arrival, firefighters were met with fire and smoke at a single family, three-story, wood frame house. The fire was contained to the first and second floors, along with the home’s side porch.

Chief Berkenbush ordered a second alarm to assist Amesbury’s Engine 1, which was first to arrive on scene. Crews from Salisbury, Newburyport, Merrimac and Exeter, N.H. responded.

Firefighters initially attempted to make an offensive interior attack, but were driven out. Crews then worked a defensive operation outside the home using master streams, and determined additional manpower was needed.

A third alarm was ordered, bringing in the West Newbury, Haverhill, South Hampton, N.H., East Kingston, N.H., Kingston, N.H., Hampton Falls, N.H. and Rye, N.H. fire departments, along with Atlantic Ambulance out of Newburyport. Haverhill, Hampton Falls, N.H., Plastow, N.H., fire departments and Atlantic Ambulance covered the Amesbury station.

A woman was inside the residence at the time the fire occurred, but safely evacuated prior to firefighters’ arrival. She sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported by ambulance to an area hospital. No injuries to firefighters were reported.

Crews put out the fire at 12:38 p.m. Chief Berkenbush estimates the damage to be approximately $100,000 and the home is currently uninhabitable.

“This was a large fire that required a lot of manpower,” Chief Berkenbush said. “Thank you to our neighboring fire departments who provided assistance today, allowing us to control the fire quickly and efficiently.”

The cause and origin of the fire are under investigation by the Amesbury Fire Rescue Department, Amesbury Police Department and State Police assigned to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

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