Lawrence home destroyed by large blaze

LAWRENCE, Mass. (WHDH) -- Firefighters from neighboring towns had to help put out a Lawrence fire they said is one of the most intense they have ever seen. The house, home to 11 people spanning 3 generations, was completely destroyed.

“She’s nine and she says she never wants to see a Christmas tree ever again, she doesn't' like Christmas anymore,” said Rose Matias, who lived in the house.

The Lawrence Fire Department is still investigating but the family who lost their home said they think the fire started around their Christmas tree.

Matias, an 18-year-old college student, wasn't home at the time the fire started, but she said the rest of her family barely made it out.

“My grandmother had to jump out the window with my aunt,” said Matias.

After they managed to escape, they watched their house burn to the ground.

“Ten minutes at the most, the house just burned down,” said a witness.

Stephen Masuk who has lived next door for nearly 50 years saw the whole thing.

“I woke to the sound of my wife yelling ‘fire.’ She grabbed the dog and ran out the basement, I grabbed my father and came out the kitchen door here,” said Masuk.

His house was damaged by the heat from the fire.

“It was extremely hot, fast and intense. Like I said maybe 20 or 30 foot flames shooting off the top of the second floor porch,” said Masuk.

The close knit family is devastated and now homeless right before Christmas. Investigators said given the scope of the damage it could take them days to determine the cause of the fire.