LOWELL >> A two-alarm fire that broke out in the basement of a duplex unit on Saturday afternoon has temporarily displaced its residents.

No one was injured in the blaze, the cause of which remains under investigation, according to Lowell Deputy Fire Chief Bob Beane.

Reports of a structure fire at 11 Maitland Ave. came in around 1:40 p.m. Moments later, Lowell firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke billowing from the duplex unit. About 30 minutes later, a second alarm was struck.

Beane stated that the fire damage was contained to the basement, while smoke caused damage to the first and second floors, even extending up into the attic. The residents escaped the home uninjured. Windows throughout the building’s front, rear, and side were broken out, with smoke residue staining the siding.

Beane noted that the family residing in the unit will be temporarily displaced, but fortunately, the home was not destroyed.

“There’s going to be a lot of work to salvage it, but it’s definitely salvageable,” Beane said.

The neighboring unit in the duplex, 9 Maitland Ave., remained unscathed by the fire. Beane noted that the residents of that unit were not home when the fire broke out.

Beane described basement fires as “the worst” and “the most dangerous,” explaining that firefighters have to descend into the basement to battle the flames.

An extensive overhaul was planned, which involved pulling everything out of the unit’s basement.

“What’s down there could be burnt, it could be smoldering,” Beane said. “We don’t want it kicking back up later on.”

A man who confirmed he was a resident of the damaged unit declined to comment about the fire when approached by The Sun.

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