Cedardale Owners Vow to Quickly Rebuild After Devastating Fire

Cedardale owner Ed Veasey, right, tours the fire-damaged health and fitness center. (WHAV News photograph.)

Deputy Fire Chief Jeffrey Akstin surveys continuing hot spots. (WHAV News photograph.)

The owners and founders of Cedardale Health and Fitness are vowing to rebuild quickly after a three-alarm blaze Wednesday that caused an estimated $2 million in damage to a principal building at the complex.

Ed and Zoe Veasey, who had been at the fire scene since about 4 a.m., said they are going right to work on a new Cedardale. Ed Veasey said work will begin once the insurance company completes its assessment.

“We’re going to get this place put back together one way or another as quick as we possibly can.” Veasey said he is prepared to move quickly, whether part of the building is salvageable or not.

“We take it down and put up a brand new, whatever we have to put up.”

The Veaseys explained five tennis courts are in bubbles. Other than smoke damage, they said, the courts remain “viable.” They expressed concern for their longtime and loyal members.

“Well, I want to have people know and understand we’re working and we’re going to accommodate them.” One possibility, he said, is to rent a building.

Meanwhile, as of 1 in the afternoon, firefighters were still finding hot spots to douse. Deputy Fire Chief Jeffrey Akstin said investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the inferno.

“We’re not really sure where the fire started yet. It’s still under investigation. When we arrived, we had light smoke showing and it evolved into something bigger.” Akstin said the department’s first concern were residents of nearby apartments. He said one woman came out of her apartment safely on her own.

“There was a reported person in the rear of the building, in one of the apartments. She’s ok.”

The deputy chief thanked the many communities who provided mutual aid, including Several communities helping out Lawrence, Methuen, North Andover, Salem, N.H., and Groveland.

Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey’s office estimated said its damage estimate of at least $2 million is preliminary since ongoing firefighting activities limited access.

“The joint investigation by Haverhill Fire and Police and State Police assigned to the Office of the State Fire Marshal is ongoing, but the team was only able to conduct a limited fire scene exam as the fire department has continued to put out hot spots all day. The investigation will continue tomorrow,” said Jennifer Mieth, public information officer for the fire marshal.

Boston Road was closed to through traffic into the early afternoon, Wednesday.