Mass. fire damages 16 buildings

By Karen Testa
The Associated Press

Photo courtesy of Rick Nohl.
Lawrence, Mass. firefighters required assistance from several mutual aid companies to fight the Monday morning blaze.

LAWRENCE, Mass. — At least 50 people awoke Tuesday in a Red Cross shelter after a massive blaze in an empty downtown nightclub quickly spread through 16 buildings, forcing them to flee their homes into the bitter cold.

Approximately 150 were left homeless after the fire swept through homes and businesses in the pre-dawn hours Monday. Only one minor injury was reported.

Mayor Michael J. Sullivan planned to meet Tuesday with agencies working to find temporary shelter and other resources for those displaced.

State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan said the fire started in the nightclub, which was being renovated. The flames spread quickly because the club had no walls, he said.

Freezing winds quickly pushed the blaze through the block, which included early 1900s three-story, wood-framed buildings, a hair salon and three buildings being rehabilitated by Habitat for Humanity. Firefighters were hampered by wind chills that dropped to 2 below zero, freezing the water used to fight the blaze, covering buildings and streets in ice.

Gov. Deval Patrick, who toured the site and met with displaced families on Monday, said work remained "to close in on what the cause of the fire is and most especially to help the families get back on their feet."

"But one step at a time," he said.

The nightclub owner, Geraldo Torres, 45, said he intended to open a restaurant and bar in the nightclub space. Renovations began about two months ago and he put $300,000 into the building.

"I don't have any insurance. I lost everything," he said.