By Ray Lamont Staff writer
Jul 4, 2016
ESSEX, MASS. — A smoky, four-alarm fire has damaged a major office and industrial complex on Western Avenue — Route 22 — on the night of the Fourth of July.
Firefighting crews from from Essex, Hamilton, Wenham and Gloucester were on the scene, and an engine sent from Beverly to cover the Essex fire station was also dispatched to the fire shortly before 9 p.m. Law enforcement personnel had Route 22 closed about 1,000 feet in the area of the blaze.
The fire, which broke out around 8 p.m., continued to pour heavy smoke from the complex, which houses 10 business at 239 Western Ave., just west of Essex Pizza. There were also three ambulances or rescue trucks at the scene, but as of 9 p.m., there were no reports of injuries that required anyone to be transported to area hospitals.
Firefighters battled the blaze both from the roof and from a pair of ladders leading into the second floor of the west wing of the building.
It was not clear what business occupies that section of the building, or how badly the fire had spread and damaged other sections inside the complex. It was also not clear whether anyone was inside at the time of the holiday night fire.
Businesses housed in the building are Goodwear, Quinn Brothers Iron Works, Collins Manufacturing, High-Tech Electronics, Jo’s Art, Advance Data Technology Inc., both FMC and Gateway realty trusts, AET Labs, and Fox Hill Heating Service.