GLOUCESTER — At around 10:22 p.m. on the evening of Saturday, Dec. 14, firefighters with the Gloucester Fire Department were dispatched to 3 Pirmi Lane following a report of a structure fire.
According to a joint statement from Gloucester’s Fire Chief Eric Smith and the city’s Police Chief Edward Conley, when crews arrived on scene, they were met with heavy flames coming from the second floor of the multi-unit building. After observing this, a second alarm was struck, requesting additional resources to the scene.
Firefighters, assisted by Gloucester police officers, rescued five people from the building, with some evacuations requiring the use of ground ladders, according to the statement from the Gloucester police and fire departments.
One resident was taken to Beverly Hospital, another to Addison Gilbert Hospital, and a third sought medical evaluation on their own. Three police officers were transported to the hospital for smoke inhalation. The condition of those injured in the blaze was not included in the statement from the city’s police and fire departments.
“I am proud of the heroic efforts of our officers and all first responders involved. We are hopeful for the swift recovery of everyone affected by this incident,” said Chief Conley. Adding, “Due to the incredible work of our first responders, we made numerous rescues. If not for their efforts, the outcome would have been a tragic loss of lives. Unfortunately, we have many displaced families as the entire building had to be shut down, and it will be some time before these residents will be able to get back into their homes.”
In the press release which was issued at 2:18 a.m. on Dec. 15, Chief Conley said that the vast majority of the fire had been knocked down and crews were overhauling the scene to ensure that all hot spots had been extinguished.
Gloucester’s police and fire departments received mutual aid at the scene from the Essex, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Rockport, and Ipswich fire departments. The fire departments from Danvers, Beverly, and Hamilton provided station coverage while Gloucester Fire Department personnel were on the scene. State Police assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s Office also responded to the scene to assist.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation at the present time.
