IPSWICH — Chief Paul Parisi reported that the Ipswich Fire Department tackled a two-alarm fire at a machine shop on Monday, following an emergency call that came in during the late afternoon.
The Emergency Communications staff received the call at 3:16 p.m. on Feb. 5 about a fire at 24 Hayward St. Police and fire units were dispatched immediately to the scene.
En route, Action Ambulance personnel, also situated on Hayward Street, observed smoke emanating from the building and confirmed that employees had been evacuated.
Upon arrival, Engine 2 along with Cars 1 and 2 were the first responders to report smoke visible from a single-story wood frame/steel skin industrial structure.
Firefighters embarked on an offensive, internal assault on the fire, which had penetrated the building’s walls and reached the roofline.
To combat the flames effectively, firefighters had to dismantle the interior walls and the building’s exterior steel skin—a demanding task.
Additional off-duty and on-call firefighters were summoned to help extinguish the fire, which was brought under control by approximately 5 p.m. There were no reported injuries related to the incident.
Chief Parisi expressed relief over the ample staffing available during the emergency.
Mutual aid at the scene was provided by fire crews from Essex, Rowley, Topsfield, and Rehab 5, while Hamilton, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Wenham firefighters covered the stations.
The origin of the fire was traced to a machine within the building, with officials determining that the cause was not suspicious in nature.
