North Andover Family Displaced By Carriage Chase Road Fire

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — The cause of a house fire in North Andover Saturday is still under investigation, Fire Chief William McCarthy said Monday.

The fire on Carriage Chase Road took five fire departments to fight and units were kept on the scene overnight. The only injury was an elbow injury sustained by a firefighter.

The residents were home at the time of the fire, McCarthy said, but were outside on the patio. A worker on the scene noticed the smoke, and a resident called 911 at 3:29 p.m. Saturday.

"The first officer on the scene reported fire and heavy smoke showing from the roof," MCCarthy said.

The first firefighters to arrive entered the front door of the house and made their way to the second floor, before the officer in charge struck a second-alarm, bringing in all the department's resources and mutual aid companies.

Lawrence, Andover, Methuen and Middleton firefighters provided mutual aid assistance on the scene while Lawrence, Haverhill and Boxford units covered the department's fire stations.

Firefighters evacuated the building and fought it from the outside, McCarthy said. By the time the fire was out, the building's roof was gone, the second floor had heavy fire damage, and the first floor had water damage. One fire engine remained overnight to ensure the fire did not reignite.

McCarthy estimated the damage as over $500,000. The house is valued at $1.3 million, he noted.

"The insurance company will have to determine whether any part of it can be saved," the chief said.

The cause is being investigated by the department's fire investigator and the state fire marshal's office.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.