GLOUCESTER – (Video interview GFD Fire Chief below) Firefighters spent several hours Saturday at the scene of a four-alarm fire that heavily damaged houses on Centennial Avenue in Gloucester with the fire apparently starting at no. 76.. Gloucester Fire Department Chief Eric Smith was in charge at the scene. He reported that no one has been injured including residents and firefighters. Firefighters from Rockport, Essex, Beverly, Hamilton, Danvers and other departments assisted. Chief Smith reports below that two other homes were also damaged. (Update – More details below)
GLOUCESTER — Fire Chief Eric Smith reports that the Gloucester Fire Department battled a major fire on Saturday that destroyed one house and damaged two more before the fire could be brought under control.
Firefighters responded at 5:03 p.m. to 76 Centennial Ave. for a reported building fire in a single family home. The first units arrived within three minutes of the first call, but on arrival, both 76 and 74 Centennial Ave. were on fire, with 76 fully ablaze and the exterior of 74, another single family home, burning. Soon afterward, a third structure, 78 Centennial Ave. began to burn, and firefighters had to act quickly to stop the spread of the fire in the densely settled residential neighborhood.
Gloucester firefighters made an aggressive attack on the blaze and quickly called for a four-alarm response, sending fire units from several other communities to the scene.
The house at 76 Centennial Ave. was destroyed, and 74 sustained damages and is currently not inhabitable. The third house was not seriously damaged, and residents were able to return.
“This was a major fire, but our firefighters and the vital mutual aid fire companies from our neighbors did a tremendous job stopping the spread of the fire and containing it,” said Captain Joe Aiello, who was one of the first firefighters on scene.
No one was injured.
Firefighters from Rockport, Essex, Ipswich, Hamilton, and Danvers responded to the scene, and the Gloucester Fire Department called two off-duty shifts back to work. Salem, Wenham, Middleton, and additional called back Gloucester firefighters covered the City of Gloucester during the incident.
The origin and cause of the fire are under investigation by the Gloucester Fire Department and the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal’s Office.
The American Red Cross is assisting displaced residents.
