GEORGETOWN – Chief Matt McKay shared the actions taken by the Georgetown Fire Department as it battled a serious 4-alarm house fire.
At 10:49 p.m. Saturday, June 22, Georgetown Fire responded to 238 East Main St. for a report of a house fire.
Upon arrival, firefighters observed heavy flames shooting about 20 feet high from the roof of the 2.5-story wood-frame, single-family home.
Once on scene firefighters were notified that three residents were able to evacuate safely from the home, but a woman was still inside. Firefighters entered the home and located the woman, who had suffered serious injuries, on the second floor.
The woman was removed from the home through a second-floor window and brought down a ladder to safety. She was transported by ambulance to Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport. She did not survive her injuries.
A second alarm was quickly struck shortly before 11 p.m. Saturday to bring in mutual aid from surrounding communities. As the fire continued to rapidly spread, third and fourth alarms were struck to bring more resources to the scene.
The fire was brought under control at 12:46 a.m. Sunday and crews were still overhauling the scene as of 1:20 a.m.
East Main Street (Route 133) was closed in both directions for several hours during firefighting operations.
The home was determined to be a total loss and the residents will be displaced. The American Red Cross was notified and is responding to the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Georgetown Fire Department with assistance from the State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit attached to the State Fire Marshal’s Office, initially attributed to wiring in the garage.
Firefighters from the Rowley, West Newbury, Newbury, Boxford, Newburyport, Topsfield, North Andover, Lawrence, Middleton, Haverhill, Groveland, Amesbury, Ipswich and Amesbury fire departments responded to the scene and provided station coverage. Rehab 5, Cataldo Ambulance Service and Pridestar Trinity EMS also responded to the scene to assist.
