Beverly Firefighters Battle Apartment Blaze For 10 Hours

UPDATED 10 a.m.

BEVERLY, MA — Dozens of Beverly residents were forced from an apartment complex in the Trask Court neighborhood Thursday because of a three-alarm fire that took crews more than 10 hours to contain.

Beverly fire said the flames broke out at about 7 p.m. at the Folly Hill Meadows apartment complex and when crews arrived they "went to the third floor to attempt to gain access to the apartments, only to be pushed back by extremely high heat."

WHDH-TV reported that more than 40 residents were displaced, two dogs died and crews had to rescue one woman from her apartment.

"It was a very stubborn fire that took nearly 10 hours to contain," Beverly fire said Friday morning. "Crews will be on-scene throughout today investigating the cause of the fire."

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency said members of its regional team were at the apartments Friday morning working alongside the Salvation Army and American Red Cross to support recovery efforts for the displaced residents.

The Salvation Army of Massachusetts said it was providing lunches for the residents — many of whom are elderly.

Danvers, Peabody, Middleton, Wenham, Hamilton, Manchester-By-The-Sea and Topsfield provided mutual aid as the fire reached three alarms, while Lynn and Ipswich covered the Beverly stations and responded to several calls in the city.

Rehab 5 provided firefighter assistance throughout the night.