3 minutes

Paul Cotter

A devastating flame broke out in Lawrence, Massachusetts, causing significant damage to a structure on Essex Street that housed a parcel shop and a bakery. The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday morning and firefighters battled the blaze for several hours, stopping the fire from moving to neighboring buildings.

The fire chief confirmed that the building had been completely lost and it was not yet clear where the fire had come from. However, the alarm was sounded first in the bakery and by the time firefighters arrived, part of the structure had already collapsed.

The situation was tense, lorries were driven up to the building and firefighters were actively involved in extinguishing the fire on the spot. Despite the seriousness of the flame, no one was injured, which was a relief to everyone involved. The owner of the bakery, Danaris Mazara, was understandably devastated by the loss of her business, which she had owned for 10 years. She employed 20 people, all of whom were present at the fire and watched in horror as their workplace was destroyed.

Mazara vowed to rebuild the bakery, but admitted there were challenges ahead. She expressed sympathy for her customers who had planned events and celebrations but would now be deprived of the bakery's services.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated, but the focus now is on supporting those affected by the incident. Firefighters remained at the scene for several hours after the flame was extinguished, ensuring the area was safe and there were no further threats to the community.

We took this video from WCVB Channel 5 Boston YouTube Channel.