By Bruno Matarazzo Jr. – The Salem News

PEABODY — Within minutes of sparking, fire engulfed one building of a large apartment complex off Dearborn Road yesterday, destroyed the building within hours and displaced approximately 700 residents in the complex. There were no reported fatalities.

The fire started at Building No. 8, and 42 of the 43 residents of building have been accounted for by fire officials. Fire Chief Steven Pasdon said he believes the last person was able to escape on his own.

One firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation, but no other residents or firefighters were reported injured from the blaze.

“The fire did race up, made its way to the attic vertically and spread out horizontally very quickly. It was like a blowtorch,” Pasdon said. “Upon my arrival, the entire ridge was completely engulfed in flames.”

Firefighters battled strong winds of 20 to 30 mph that were changing directions constantly, forcing personnel to adjust positions to protect surrounding buildings. Problems getting enough water to the fire minimized any chances of saving the building.

“One of the problems we had today was the heat index is very dry,” the chief said in a press conference. “The winds continue to shift, and we have to relocate our resources.”

Embers from the fire drifted through the air and landed across the parking lot and on landscaping beds covered with dry mulch. Pockets of mulch fires were popping up across the complex. Firefighters, police officers and bystanders kicked the fires out with their shoes.

But protecting nearby buildings became the firefighters’ objective shortly after they arrived. Pasdon said the initial objective was to search the building for anyone trapped inside but soon went on the defense.

At 4:10 p.m., firefighters yelled over the radio, ordering firefighters out of the building. Within 20 minutes, the roof gave way.

On the parking lot facing Building 8 was a thick cloud of smoke blown there from the winds.

At one point during the fire, a strong gust of wind drew dark smoke over the parking lot, forcing police, residents and other bystanders watching the fire to move back quickly. Talking without inhaling smoke and coughing was difficult, and people pulled their shirts over their mouths.

Crowd control became one of the main tasks for Peabody police. who had a heavy presence at the complex assisting residents, helping rescue animals and directing traffic.

Police shut down the entrance to the building and, soon after, Dearborn Road. The fire was visible for miles, especially from Routes 1 and 128 and Interstate 95. Traffic was snarled throughout city roads and the highway, where motorists pulled on the side of the road to take pictures with their cell phones.

Peabody and state fire investigators will be zeroing in on a cause for the fire in an investigation expected to take weeks. Pasdon said there are three preliminary causes investigators are looking into: One is the gas main serving the complex, but he would not disclose the other two.

The Fire Department’s investigation unit and the state police troopers with the State Fire Marshal’s Office are expected to be at the scene through this morning.

Though the exact cause of the blaze is unknown, its track was pretty clear, Pasdon said. The chief said the fire started in the rear of the building and raced up the building into the cockloft.

“The biggest thing with these types of fires, (and) as fire chiefs that we’ve been legislating, is sprinklers,” Pasdon said. “The building is partially sprinkled, but in the attic area there are no sprinklers.”

The structure also had no fire walls, which allowed the fire to move freely across the attic, Pasdon said.

Fire Marshal Stephen Coan said all indications are that the 26-unit building was built to code.

The type of sprinkler that was in the building is designed for “life safety,” meaning giving people trapped inside enough time to get out of the building, Coan said. The sprinklers were not designed to preserve property.

Coan said his office is working with area fire chiefs to change building codes so all new residential construction will have sprinklers that preserve property.

In addition to sprinkler trouble, the building was doomed by an inability to quickly get water from outside sources, Pasdon said.

“Although we have multiple fire hydrants, with a fire of this magnitude, even when you can start tapping separate hydrants, you’re only robbing Peter to pay Paul,” he said.

Throughout the firefighting efforts, the fire department was working with the water department to open gates in the water system to direct the flow to the area of the fire.

Pasdon and Mayor Michael Bonfanti, who came to the scene from City Hall, commended the work of the firefighters. Pasdon said firefighters, not only from his department, but the other departments that responded from as far away as Groveland did an “outstanding job” with the such difficult conditions.

The grief for residents was evident as they waiting for word of their loved ones, their animals trapped inside, and their belongings.

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