North Shore Volkswagen Fire
29 May 2010
At 0526, the Beverly Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a fire on the roof at North Shore Volkswagen at 128 Park St. Captain Russell Halloran, the Officer in Charge, turned on to Park St and witness heavy fire and smoke coming from the building and immediately requested a second alarm. Crews from Truck 1, and Engine 5 immediately stretched hoses into the showroom portion of the building in an effort to knock down fire in the building, but heavy heat and intensifying fire conditions drove firefighters out of the building.
As firefighters from Wenham, Manchester, Peabody, Danvers and Salem arrived at the scene, crews were able to force additional exterior doors and get hoses in place to stop the rapid progression of fire. Wenham Firefighters opened holes in the roof to give smoke and heat a place to get out rather than travel the length of the building. The buildings layout kept the bulk of the fire in a loft where fire crews had a difficult time getting water on it.
Ultimately, crews were able to get water into the loft and get the fire knocked down before it was able to spread further down the building where nearly 1,000 gallons of waste oil was stored. By 0715, crews from outside communities were being released from the scene. Beverly Firefighters will remain on scene throughout the day.
With the heavy flames knocked down, firefighters were able to enter the building, dig out hidden fires and assess damage. The heaviest of the fire damage occurred between the showroom and the shops storage area. There were several cars in the showroom that sustained moderate smoke and some heat damage and all of the offices in that area were destroyed. The entire loft area as well as parts storage area sustained heavy heat and water damage that resulted in the partial collapse of several load bearing structural members. Two vehicles in the shop were damaged including one that fire crews found fully involved on a lift seven feet in the air.
“Given the type of structure and the heavy volume of fire crews encountered when they arrived, the firefighters did a great job of stopping the fire from advancing all the way to the back of the building” said Chief Paul Cotter, “parts of the building were already collapsing as they went in for their initial attack.”
The structure is a total loss with severe damage to structural elements exposed to the fire. According to the 2010 assessment, the building is valued at just over $400,000. Firefighters have estimated the contents loss at more than $500,000.
One major concern was the chemicals used at an auto repair facility. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection was notified of the incident. The greatest concern was for waste oils and fuels which appear to have been contained.
No injuries were sustained by firefighters or civilians. The fire closed Park St until approximately 10 am.
Fire Investigators from the Beverly Fire Department, Beverly Police Department and a Trooper from the Office of the State Fire Marshall are on scene investigating the cause of the fire. No one was in the building at the time the fire was reported, but property owners were on scene throughout the morning.
Peabody, Wenham, Danvers, Manchester by the sea, Salem and Rehab 5 assisted at the scene while Hamilton, Swampscott, and Topsfield covered Beverly’s stations.
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