At 18:06 hours today, North Shore Regional 911 began receiving multiple 911 calls reporting a building fire at 1 Smith’s Lane in Manchester. Based on the reported information, a Working Fire Assignment was automatically dispatched, consisting of Car 3 (Shift Commander Lt. Happel), Manchester Ladder 1, Manchester Engine 1, Manchester Engine 2, as well as mutual aid companies from Wenham and Essex. Manchester Engine 1 and Engine 2 were staffed by call firefighters and off-duty full-time firefighters.
Car 3 arrived on scene and reported a 3½-story multifamily residential building with nothing visible from the exterior. Ladder 1 crews quickly stretched an attack line to the third floor, where firefighters located a kitchen fire.
C2, Assistant Chief Cavender, was the first arriving chief officer and assumed command of the incident. C1, Chief McNeilly, was assigned to Division Alpha, while Gloucester Fire Department Assistant Chief Ouellette was assigned as Incident Safety Officer.
Due to the department responding with a shift strength of four personnel, crews were able to immediately initiate an interior attack while additional staffing responded to support operations. This incident serves as another example of why maintaining adequate staffing levels is critical to protecting our community, and we thank the Town for its continued support. The fire was quickly knocked down and confined to the room of origin. The building’s sprinkler system played a significant role in limiting fire spread and preventing more extensive damage, highlighting the importance of fire protection systems in residential buildings.
While Manchester crews operated on scene, mutual aid companies, including Hamilton Engine, Gloucester Ladder, and a Beverly Engine, provided station coverage. We would also like to thank Beauport Ambulance Service for providing EMS standby coverage, Rehab 5 for providing hydration to the firefighters, as well as the Manchester Police Department and North Shore Regional 911, all of whom played an integral role in the response.
Mutual aid plays a vital role in managing significant emergencies in small communities, and we would like to sincerely thank all of the responding agencies and personnel whose teamwork and professionalism contributed to a successful outcome.
The building sustained fire damage and smoke damage to the involved unit and water damage to neighboring units. There were no reported injuries.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Manchester Fire Department and the Manchester Police Department.
