IPSWICH — A two-alarm fire claimed the life of a woman living on the third floor of the Oak Hill Apartments at 35 Central St. just after 10 yesterday morning.
Smoking was the probable cause, State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan and Ipswich fire Chief Art Howe said in a statement late yesterday afternoon. The statement did not give further details beyond "the improper use and disposal of smoking materials."
The victim's identity was not immediately released, pending notification of her relatives and identification by the medical examiner's office. Howe said she was in her early 50s and was found in Apartment 303, where the fire started. Only one person lived in the apartment, he said.
"It was contained to that unit," Howe said.
Residents of the apartment building are allowed to smoke, Howe said, although most do not.
The tragedy occurred despite the building's extensive fire safety systems, which helped contain the blaze and alert firefighters in their station just a few blocks away.
"You couldn't have had any more fire protection than you had on scene," Howe said.
"You had those detectors inside the apartment, you had detectors outside the apartment in the hallway. The building is fully sprinklered, both within the occupancy and in the common areas. The fire station is 100 yards away or less."
The 33-unit building in downtown Ipswich has mostly senior residents and some people with disabilities, Howe said. The building connects with a seven-unit apartment building next door. Residents of both buildings were evacuated.
Some residents have mobility issues, and some had to be escorted next door to the Immanuel Baptist Church, where Howe estimated 33 people were taken.
One of those who saw residents being led out was Ipswich Selectman Shirley Berry, who happened by the fire scene on her way through town. She also assisted with those who were evacuated.
"They were bringing people out from here, so I just helped," Berry said. "It was almost like an assembly line of bringing them out, somebody else bringing them over, somebody else bringing them into the church," Berry said. "A lot of them were disoriented and frightened, naturally."
Some residents used walkers and others were in wheelchairs, Berry said.
"We've got a great community here. Everybody reaches out," Berry said. "We've got restaurants that have sent all kinds of food for them, and they got blankets for them. Thank God the fire station is as close as it was, because it could have been a lot worse. It could have been an awful lot worse."
Animal Control Officer Matt Antczak was on scene making sure residents' pets were accounted for, and a paramedic could be seen walking a small white dog around the driveway between the church and the apartment building.
Howe said that besides the apartment involved in the fire, a couple of apartments will probably not be habitable for days as they will need to be cleaned of smoke and water damage.
Most of the residents were expected to be able to move back yesterday afternoon, he said. Firefighters were trying to determine which apartments would be habitable.
Howe credited the building's fire system with averting further tragedy.
"It absolutely played a role in limiting fire damage," Howe said. The fire triggered the activation of two sprinkler heads.
"We are fortunate in that the sprinklers kept the fire in check," Howe said. Sprinklers work to contain fires to their room of origin.
The state police assigned to the state fire marshal were on scene yesterday investigating with Ipswich police and fire investigators. The state medical examiner's office was also on scene.
The building is privately owned, and Howe said a representative was on scene assisting residents, but the staff director was out of town. Howe said she had spoken on the phone with fire officials.
Police said the building's representative did not want residents to be interviewed because they were in a fragile state.
After the fire call came in at 10:12 a.m., police routed traffic on Route 1A around the scene for about three hours.
Howe said the alarm came from a master box that controls all the building's alarm systems. An Ipswich engine responded with a crew of four and confirmed they had a working fire on the third floor. Ipswich police Chief Paul Nikas and police officers were also on scene to help, Howe said.
The only sign from the outside there had been a fire in the building were some open windows on the second and third floors toward the rear left side of the building.
Rowley and Hamilton fire departments assisted at the scene, while Topsfield and Essex crews provided fire station coverage. The American Red Cross and Rehab Five also responded.
Berry said community volunteers were assisting evacuated residents throughout the day.
"Some people don't have anywhere to go," Berry said. "I want to take them all home; I just do, you know."
Staff writer Ethan Forman can be reached at 978-338-2673, by e-mail at eforman@salemnews.com or on Twitter @DanverSalemNews.
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