Four Juveniles Charged With Setting Massive Mill Fire

Photo Credit: 7News.whdh.com

Four juveniles were arrested on Thursday for setting the Sunday evening mill fire at 30 Stevens St., Haverhill, according to the state fire marshal.

The fire started around 5 p.m. Sunday, and quickly grew in the abandoned mill to 7-alarms. Firefighters from trhoughout the region provided mutual aid to the Haverhill Fire Department and spent the entire night putting out hot spots.

The four juveniles, aged 14, 15, 15, and 16 are being charged with burning of a building and will be arraigned in Lawrence Juvenile Court.

“This case has come to a swift and successful conclusion because of good old-fashioned police work among a number of agencies and importantly, assistance from the community,” said State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan in a statement.

The building is a total loss.

“Fighting fires in these vacant mills are extremely dangerous,” Interim Haverhill Fire Chief jack Parow. “By oils that have soaked into the floor boards for decades.”

Haverhill Police Detective Captain Robert Pistone commended law and fire agencies that acted as a cohesive team in solving this complex case.

The fire was investigated by members of the Haverhill Fire and Police Departments, State Police assigned to the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The case will be prosecuted by Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett’s office. A state Hazardous Material team responded to monitor air quality and water run-off from suppression efforts.