Fire crews battled a lingering heat wave as well as the intense flames from a three-alarm fire at the vacant JJ’s Pub at 16 Liberty St., Thursday afternoon. / Photo by: Stephanie Spyropoulos

Express staff report

HANSON – A three-alarm fire on Thursday, July 5 has been deemed suspicious by state and local public safety officials.

Firefighters from several area communities assisted Hanson Fire Department in battling a three-alarm fire in a vacant building. No injuries were reported, but two firefighters were transported to the hospital for treatment of heat-related illness.

The cause of the fire has not been determined and the incident is still under investigation by Hanson Police and Fire and the State Fire Marshall’s office.

Anyone who has information about the fire is asked to call Hanson Police at 781-293-4625 or the state Arson Hotline at 1-800-682-9229.

Hanson fire personnel responded to calls reporting the fire at 16 Liberty St. – the former JJ’s Pub – at about 3 p.m. Flames were visible on their arrival and crews immediately began to fight the fire as second and third alarms were struck calling companies from numerous area towns to assist.

Hanson Fire Chief Jerome Thompson Jr., reported that the fire was extinguished by 6 p.m., but that fire crews were still dousing hot spots. Route 58, at the intersection of Liberty and East Washington streets remained closed to traffic while the scene remained active and residents were asked to avoid the area.

National Grid shut off power to the area to permit firefighters to safely work. Nearly 200 customers were affected by the shut-off.

Thompson and Police Chief Michael Miksch thanked the residents for their patience.

The cause and origin of the blaze are not known and it is under investigation by the State Fire Marshall’s office.

Hanson Fire also Tweeted their thanks to the departments that assisted today at the fire.

“We also would like to thank our other Town departments that assisted and members of the public who dropped off water and Gatorade,” the Twitter post stated.