A massive fire broke out and spread rapidly between three buildings in Lawrence, Massachusetts, on Sunday, sending heavy smoke into the sky as firefighters from more than 20 neighboring departments battled the blaze for hours.

Lawrence police urged the public to avoid Haverhill Street at Margin Street while firefighters worked to contain the flames. Lawrence Fire Chief Patrick Delaney said crews were first called to the scene around 12:45 p.m.

“We had three occupied dwellings all with heavy fire,” he said. “The primary concern making sure everybody was out of these buildings. Next was getting some aerials in place, establishing water supplies and getting our members up.”

Delaney said one person was rescued from a third-floor window and taken to the hospital. Their condition wasn’t immediately clear. The mayor’s office later said two people had been transported to hospitals for evaluation, but that there were no serious injuries reported.

“This is one of those days that reminds us what it truly means to serve our community,” Mayor Brian A. DePeña said in a statement. DePeña specifically expressed his appreciation to the 22 mutual aid fire companies that responded to assist Lawrence firefighters throughout the incident, as well as the Lawrence Police Department for helping secure the scene and maintain public safety.

WBTS-CD NBC 10 Boston

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VIDEO: San Francisco first responders are raising concerns about autonomous vehicles blocking emergency routes and delaying response times, prompting city leaders to explore additional accountability measures for self-driving car companies.

The concerns come three years after the California Public Utilities Commission allowed Waymo and Cruise to expand self-driving vehicle operations in San Francisco. Since then, hundreds of autonomous vehicles have become part of daily life in the city, but firefighters say they have also created challenges during some emergency responses.

“Anytime we are blocked by any autonomous vehicle that matters, and we don’t want that to continue to happen,” said Mariano Elias of the San Francisco Fire Department. The department has been documenting incidents involving autonomous vehicles for years, according to Elias.

KGO-TV ABC 7 San Francisco

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Ten people and several family pets were forced from their homes after their apartment caught on fire in Everett. It happened on July 10 at the Olin Fields Apartments on Holly Drive. According to the fire department, three units were burned.

The primary fire damage occurred in a ground-floor unit, while the second- and third-floor apartments above sustained mostly smoke damage. The quick work of firefighters prevented the fire from extending into the attic. No one was hurt.

Social workers from the City’s CARE Team are assisting those affected and connecting them with the American Red Cross for additional support. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

KIRO-TV CBS 7 Seattle

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VIDEO: Thai indie band Thotsakan was performing at a packed bar in Bangkok on Sunday when band manager Ice Athipat Wijarn, seated off stage, saw smoke emerging from behind the keyboardist.

The keyboardist, Kwang, shouted for people to flee – and within seconds a fierce blaze tore through Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao, in the city’s vibrant Chatuchak district.

Ice recalls fumbling with the door in the smoke-engulfed room as he tried to escape.

“Everybody was running, squeezing into each other,” he told Thai talk show Hone-Krasae. He crawled towards the exit – then something exploded, throwing him out of the bar.

“The sight of my girlfriend’s body being carried out, the sight of my friend who was burned in the fire and everything that happened are still etched in my mind,” he said in comments reported by Agence France-Presse.

The blaze killed at least 28 people and left dozens more injured, authorities confirmed on Monday.

Kwang, along with Thotsakan’s female singer Breeze and drummer Bew, died after succumbing to their injuries, according to a Facebook post from another band member, Patchara Songphatkaew.

BBC News

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A boat caught fire Saturday afternoon on Lake Washington near Seward Park before sinking, according to the Seattle Fire Department. Firefighters responded to reports of the vessel on fire offshore of the 9000 block of Seward Park Ave. S. The boat’s occupant was able to safely board a nearby boater’s vessel before emergency crews arrived.

Seattle police Harbor Patrol and the Mercer Island Police Department responded to the scene as firefighters extinguished the blaze. The occupant reported no injuries. The vessel later became fully submerged. The U.S. Coast Guard was notified but did not assist with the firefighting response.

“The Coast Guard is not assisting with the firefighting efforts for the boat fire at this time and no request for assistance have been made by local agencies,” Coast Guard Public Affairs Specialist Briana Carter said. “We are standing by in case of any environmental impacts, but do not currently have information on when the boat will be removed from the water.”

Mercer Island police said the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

KING-TV NBC 5 Seattle

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