DRACUT — Fire Chief Richard Patterson reports that the Dracut Fire Department responded to a 3-alarm fire in a single-family home on Donohue Road on Friday afternoon.
On Friday, April 15, at approximately 2:07 p.m., Deputy Fire Chief Thomas Mackey was driving in the area of Donohue Road and Mercier Street and noticed a column of smoke in the area. When Deputy Mackey turned onto Mercier Street, he saw heavy fire in the rear of a home at 158 Donohue Road.
Deputy Mackey contacted dispatch and ordered an immediate 2-alarm response.
Heavy fire conditions throughout the home forced firefighters to battle the fire defensively. A third alarm was later struck, and an additional engine beyond the third-alarm was also called to the scene to bring manpower to the scene for extensive overhaul.
The fire was brought under control at approximately 3:45 p.m.
No firefighters were injured, but a dog lost its life in the fire. A resident of the home was transported to a local hospital for evaluation.
The family who lives in the home was displaced, and the American Red Cross of Massachusetts was notified.
The cause remains under investigation by the Dracut Fire Investigation Unit and the State Police Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Firefighters from Lowell, Tyngsborough, Hudson, N.H., Nashua, N.H., and Methuen provided mutual aid at the scene. Firefighters from Lawrence, Nashua, N.H. and Salem, N.H. provided station coverage.
“I want to thank all of the mutual aid partners who assisted with this fire, which was challenging since it had a big head start and was fanned by high winds,” said Chief Patterson. “Crews did good work in difficult conditions, and we are thankful no one was seriously injured.”