Dracut Fire Department Extinguishes 3-Alarm Fire in 24-Unit Apartment Building

DRACUT — Deputy Chief Alex Voulgaris reports that the Dracut Fire Department extinguished a 3-alarm fire in a 24-unit apartment building Tuesday night.

On Tuesday, March 21, at approximately 9:14 p.m., the Dracut Fire Department received 911 calls reporting a fire at 200 Merrill Lane.

Upon arrival, companies observed heavy fire coming from a second-floor apartment in the rear of the structure. A second alarm was struck. Dracut Police helped Dracut firefighters evacuate residents from the building. Two cats were rescued.

Hose lines were brought in from the front and back of the building to attack the fire, but the fire extended upward from the second floor into the third floor and attic. A third alarm was eventually struck to bring additional manpower to the scene.

The fire was extinguished at approximately10:35 p.m., but crews remained on scene to overhaul the structure and check for hot spots. 

A firefighter was injured when part of the ceiling collapsed onto their shoulder. They were taken to Lowell General Hospital for evaluation.

While fire damage was contained to the second floor, third floor and attic, all residents in the building — more than 50 people in all — were displaced because power to the building had to be cut. The American Red Cross of Massachusetts is assisting those residents. 

Firefighters from Lowell, Tyngsborough, Methuen and Lawrence, and Pelham and Hudson, New Hampshire provided mutual aid at the scene. Firefighters from Lawrence and Nashua and Salem, New Hampshire covered Dracut stations. 

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Dracut Fire Department.