Hey Scott, this went to 9 alarms. The mill encompassed 3 city blocks.



http://www.iafflocal1693.org/single_...arsons%20Paper

http://www.iafflocal1693.org/single_...arsons%20Paper

http://www.iafflocal1693.org/single_...arsons%20Paper

http://www.iafflocal1693.org/single_...arsons%20Paper

http://www.iafflocal1693.org/single_...arsons%20Paper

http://www.iafflocal1693.org/single_...arsons%20Paper


http://www.iafflocal1693.org/single_...arsons%20Paper


http://www.iafflocal1693.org/single_...arsons%20Paper

http://www.iafflocal1693.org/single_...arsons%20Paper



Tim

 

Man, I HATE fires like that. For the first hour or three, it's interesting watching how the fire behaves, how it consumes things while leaving other things untouched for awhile. But after that... There's nothing more boring than sitting on a hose line for hours on end listening to water flow.

We've never had anything that big in the town I come from, (we don't HAVE 3 city blocks! ), but I've been to quite a few mutual aid calls that were similar. Haverhill had a 6 bagger back in the early 90's that took out 2 blocks. Right in the middle of it was a Chinese restaurant that was giving us all we could eat. We eventually had to make them leave because we couldn't hold back the fire anymore. That was the end of the free food!

I don't know if you're old enough to remember the HUGE fire Lynn had, but that's where I got most of my training! We were there for almost a week. Most of the downtown city burned and I'll never forget it. I learned how all you big city Jakes operate and it was one of the best learning experiences I'd ever had up to that point, or since as far as that goes. I have a lot of respect for you guys that are running to those calls on a daily basis!

Thanks for posting those pics Tim!

BTW, we head out there May 17th, maybe we can hook up finally!

chaikwa.

 

That's a big fire.

 

HOLY COW

how long before it was out/under control.

 

What company owned the building and what did they manufacture?

 

One of the pictures I saw a sign that said Parson's Paper. I guess it used to be a big paper mill.

 

It was an abandoned paper mill still full of machines and all kinds of paper. We had it under control in about 8 hours. The sections that collapsed in on themselves burned for about a week and half, we actually saved half the building. It was shaped like a large square W, and had huge water pipes (12') diameter running under it for hydro power. It was a long week that week.

 

I bet you could cook some hot dogs on that baby. Glad noone was hurt.

 

Kinda reminds me of when the Diamond Reo plant burned behind my neighborhood in Lansing. Could see the sky glow for 30 miles.