Lawrence MA : 3rd alarm

M

Massfireman

Joined
Dec 8, 2012
Messages
277
3:55 pm Box 5111 Hancock, School, no address given
Engine: 5, 7 Ladder 4, Rescue 1, and Car 21 (DC)
Second alarm on arrival
Engine 9,6, ladder 4
Third alarm, Methuen, Andover engine, Lowell Ladder
3 building and several out buildings involved
Methuen and Anodover to lay in from Water street
Special call 1 engine North Andover engine
Power lines down on lines...15 minute eta for power company

Congested area of the city again in Engine 8's district, closed station

Severe water problems being encountered.
 
@ 4:28pm, companies are losing hydrants and pulling apparatus to safer operating positions.


Eagle tribune Twitter Pic



 
Third house now involved:  Building one has collapsed:





Still hydrant and water issue, all neighborhood hydrants out, both systems

Special call, Haverhill, Dracut, and North Reading Engines.

4th alarm

5th Alarm at 4:15
 
I had read somewhere that the surrounding towns are going to charge Lawrence for responses. It puts everybody in a difficult situation, Lawrence I beleive lost a SAFER grant but if I lived in Andover why is my rig, paid for with my property tax dollars going there. Stop sending the money to Syria, to all those who we give money to stop it. We should take care of our own first and foremost. A homless vet is not acceptable, we answered the call, do not want a hand-out, just an opportunity. Just what any vet asks for, love us as much as we love it. Just an old school bastard from Nam tired of those who need the help not getting it. One of these days it will REALLY bite us in the ass. Sorry to ramble on, but I feel this site understands the job obviously, but those who have made a different committment. Proud to have known and served with those who know both sides of the coin.GG
 





Companies are reporting several large and live power lines down in the street, fences possibly energized... address is 114 Hancock st.

Now reporting a large brush fire at the rear of 308 Water street adjacent to several structures.
 
Salem NH and Middleton engine covering lawrence at this time.

Additional Large brush and car Fire now reported on Showell CT.  several dead hydrants still being reported both high and low pressure systems.

PD requested again for crowd control.



 
Addirtional pump to Water and Mason, it is unclear if these are brand fires or new fires..FIU on scene.



 
Lowell is a large city, many mills and factories, a large U Mass campus, lots of wood frame triple deckers - and LFD only had 2 engines, a truck, a rescue and a chief to fill out a first alarm assignment.  Maybe 14 firefighters.  And only 2 more engines (is Truck 4 a double count on the 2nd alarm?).  That is not good.  Too many cuts. Too many  companies closed.  Lots of buildings will be lost.
 
UMass Lowell is in the finals of the Frozen Four for the NCAA Championship. They can put more people on the ice  with shifts for a hockey game than Lawrence can put on the fireground. Draw your own conclusions!
 
My mistake on the truck companies, Ladder 5 (snorkel) on the first Ladder 4 on the second, Lowell ladder 2 on the third from their quartes 19 miles away.  Lawrence is a Mill City with 80,000 residents in 7.2 square miles. In the early 90's the FD was known for their fire activity it would not be uncommon for 2-3 multiple's a night.
Lowell is 19 miles up the Merrimack river and is the home to many mills, and a large University Campus, they currently are running 8 engines, 4 trucks a heavy rescue and two chiefs per shift.
They were once called sister cities.
 
Thanks Massfireman for the info.  Lowell always had a very good fire department.  The have experienced a lot of cuts over the years, like other cities.  I think they lost another 25% of their department about a year ago, as I remember.  This is what I think they used to have:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell_Fire_Department

8 engines and 4 trucks is what they had a few years back.  Used to be more units.  Looks like they a now far short of the 8 engines and 4 trucks now. 

4 engines and 2 trucks from this major city for this multiple?  That's half of what they had.  Too bad.  They have to rely on the smaller town departments.  They can't handle two good jobs at the same time any more.
 
Mack,

I think your confusing Lawrence and Lowell,

Lowell went from 11 engines to 8 and maintained their 4 trucks, which they may brown out two companies depending on the daily staffing.

Lawrence went down to 4 engines and two trucks, they had a substantial layoff about two yrs ago, and may be in touch for another due to safer staffing running out.
 
Grumpy says Lowell still maintains 8/4, Lawrence is in a world of hurt. They will be losing manpower due to SAFER cuts. Money goes to Syria but nothing to Lawrence. Our government is simply inept!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top