Firefighters rescue a dozen people from Haverhill apartment building blaze

A fire broke out at an apartment building in Haverhill, Massachusetts, on Sunday night, with several people needing rescued by firefighters.

Chief Robert M. O’Brien says the fire department received a 911 call just before 8 p.m. reporting a fire in a 3-story apartment building on Forest Acres Drive in the Bradford section of Haverhill.

Responding crews were met by people at the front of the building reporting fire inside, and there were also multiple people calling for help who hadn’t gotten out yet.

About a dozen people were evacuated by firefighters, O’Brien said, with seven or eight of those people needing to be rescued on ladders.

Everyone got out okay, according to O’Brien. There were a couple “small injuries,” he added, and two people were taken to local hospitals.

One of the two people transported was on the grass when firefighters arrived. When asked if she jumped from her apartment, O’Brien said he thought she hung from her balcony and landed — noting it was an about an 8-foot drop. She was in “good condition,” however, the fire chief added.

The fire originated in a one of the units on the second floor, according to O’Brien, and crews were able to knock the flames down quickly, containing them to where they started. What caused the fire is unknown at this time. Investigators were on scene to determine that, and to assess the damages.

There are 52 units currently without power, pending the investigation. There’s no word on when power will be restored, as the investigation was just getting underway.