2 days Ago
LAWRENCE — Some Sunset Avenue residents were reunited with their beloved dog after a fire ripped through a multifamily home Monday evening. About 20 residents were displaced from the home at 34 Sunset Ave. The accidental fire ignited on the second floor of the building, “which appeared to have undergone unpermitted renovations” and had illegal apartments, Fire Chief Brian Moriarty said.
The house also lacked adequate working smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and methods of access and egress, Moriarty said. Firefighters initially conducted a search for anyone who was possibly trapped. All residents had safely evacuated, however.
A small dog also made it out of the house Monday evening. But come Tuesday morning, the residents could not find their pet. Firefighter Jean Jimenez battled the blaze Monday and also worked an overnight shift Tuesday.
He and other firefighters returned to 34 Sunset Ave. on Tuesday as part of their ongoing training. While inside the charred home Tuesday, Jimenez found the little missing dog.
She was on the first floor. “They were extremely happy,” Jimenez said of the family members, who immediately gathered around their dog. Moriarty said firefighters worked swiftly to contain and knock down the fire.
The home is “unhabitable” and the building inspector was notified of the unsafe conditions. Allowing five apartments in a two-family is home is extremely dangerous, Moriarty said. “It’s unsafe,” he added.
“People don’t realize how close to death they just came ...
I am terrified we are going to have a disaster someday.” Lawrence firefighters routinely encounter similar conditions and living situations when fighting fires. “Things went really well,” Moriarty said.
“But we are really lucky we averted disaster again.” The house, built in 1930, is valued at $733,100, according to city assessing records. Follow staff reporter Jill Harmacinski on Twitter/X @EagleTribJill.
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