AMESBURY — Amesbury Fire Department responded to a fire in a condominium complex on Pond Street Monday afternoon at approximately 5pm at 25 Hope Drive. Heavy smoke was showing from the eaves and attic area of the two story, four-unit condominium complex. Mutual aid from Newburyport and Salisbury responded immediately. A resident who called 911 had already evacuated and no one else was inside.
A second-alarm was struck, bringing additional mutual aid to the scene and into town to cover Amesbury fire stations. Crews quickly attacked the fire, and reported the bulk of the flames knocked down by about 5:45 p.m.
Fire damage was contained to the unit of origin on the second floor, and to a shared wall on the second-floor. The first floor sustained smoke and water damage.
Residents of all four units will be temporarily displaced since gas service was cut. The American Red Cross of Massachusetts responded to assist residents.
The fire department was assisted at the scene by the Building, Plumbing and Electrical inspectors from the City of Amesbury, as well as National Grid, and Amesbury Emergency Management.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Amesbury Fire Department and Police Department Arson Investigation Unit.
Firefighters from Newburyport, West Newbury, Salisbury, Newbury, Merrimac, Hampton, N.H., South Hampton, N.H., Seabrook, N.H., Kingston, N.H., East Kingston, N.H., and Plaistow, N.H., Hampton Falls, N.H., and a rehab unit from the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services provided mutual aid at the scene and at Amesbury stations.
