Cause of 3-Alarm Fire in Saugus Likely to Remain Undetermined

SAUGUS, MA - The cause of the early morning three-alarm fire Wednesday at the single=family house at 240 Essex St., will likely remain a mystery.

The fire that was called in at 5 a.m. was still burning mid-afternoon, according to Jennifer Mieth, Public Information Officer, Massachusetts Department of Fire Services.

Three trapped firefighters were pulled from the burning building.

An investigator from the state fire marshal’s office assisted local fire officials in the fire investigation.

It seems the fire started in the basement, and the basement ceiling was still burning shortly before 3 Wednesday afternoon, according to fire officials.

The structure is unsafe for firefighters to enter, according to Mieth, which makes it hard for them to get the water where they need to.

“Until the fire is out, fire investigators cannot conduct a forensic scene examination, and there is not going to be much left for them to work with,” Mieth wrote in an email. “They will do their best but is highly likely the fire will remain undetermined.”