Dracut Fire Department Extinguishes 3-Alarm Fire in 12-Unit Apartment Building

DRACUT — Chief Richard Patterson reports that the Dracut Fire Department responded to a three-alarm fire Tuesday morning at an apartment building on Pearl Street.

There were no injuries thanks to the quick actions of Dracut’s firefighters.

At 12:16 a.m. Tuesday, March 19, 911 operators at the Northern Middlesex Regional Communications Center received a call about a fire at 10 Pearl St., a 12-unit apartment building. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered fire coming out the front windows and front door of one unit. After a report of a trapped occupant, crews struck second and third alarms.

There was no occupant trapped in the affected unit, however many residents remained in the building when fire alarms first went off. Crews from Dracut’s Engine 3 quickly knocked down the fire and made sure that about 25 residents were able to exit the structure.

The fire was under control and residents evacuated by around 12:30 a.m.

One unit is uninhabitable. Apartments on either side of that unit suffered smoke damage.

“Engine 3’s actions in taking care of the fire quickly and then helping residents leave the building were critical,” Chief Patterson said. “We could be looking at a much different situation this morning without their quick work.”

Chief Patterson reminds people to exit a residential building on the first sounds of fire alarms.

On-scene mutual aid was provided Lowell, Methuen, Tyngsborough and Pelham, N.H. Station coverage was provided by Lawrence, Nashua, N.H., and Salem, N.H.

The fire remains under investigation by Dracut Fire Department’s investigators.