Stove Fire At McLean Building Leaves Several Elderly Residents Displaced

After battling two fires earlier in the day, Beverly Fire Department responded to a two-alarm stove fire at the McLean Building on Federal Street Thursday night.

Beverly Fire Chief Peter O'Connor said the fire was caused unintentionally by combustibles stored too close to an operating gas stove top.

Several apartments in the building, a five-story elderly housing complex with 57 units, were deemed unable to be occupied until repairs can be made.

Beverly Fire Department said at 7:40 p.m. they received an automatic fire alarm activation notification for 22 Federal St.

Truck 1 crew, Lt. Matt Kowalski and Firefighter Jay Terry encountered a light smoke condition on the third floor and heavy smoke at the apartment door.

Upon entering the apartment, they found heavy heat and flames in the kitchen area. A sprinkler head was operating inside the apartment slowing the fire from spreading to other areas of the apartment.

The firefighters were able to quickly knock down the main body of fire with a fire extinguisher and firefighters from Truck 2 were able to get a hose line to the fire floor to completely extinguish the fire.

While firefighters were working on the fire floor, Beverly Police officers were evacuating occupants in adjacent apartments and from floors below. Additional crews from Northeast Regional Ambulance were also called to the scene to assist with the evacuated occupants.

The Officer in Charge, Captain Jeff Sirois said “the incident had potential to be far worse. Due to the efforts of all responders, there were no serious injuries and we were able to address the fire issue while police officers assisted Northeast with evacuations. I am proud of everyone that responded to the scene tonight for their hard work”.

The fire damage was confined to unit 311, but approximately eights units on the second and third floors were deemed unable to be occupied until repairs could be made.

Members of the Beverly Housing Authority, Emergency Management, and Board of Health responded to the scene to assess damage and determine where to relocate displaced occupants. Some occupants were moved to open apartments while others went with family members.

American Red Cross volunteers wrote on Facebook that they were heading to help the five residents who were displaced. 

Fire damage was estimated at more than $30,000.

Firefighters from Manchester, Salem and Danvers covered Beverly stations while Beverly firefighters worked at the fire.