Emergency responders were alerted around 2:45 a.m. Tuesday to heavy smoke and flames from the mill, and crews faced intense flames that took hours to control as neighboring towns aided in the effort.

The fire triggered a three-alarm response from regional fire departments, underscoring the scale of the blaze at the abandoned Stevens Street mill.

Isabella Sargent, 18, of Haverhill, was arrested on arson of a structure and conspiracy to commit arson in connection with the massive fire.

Sargent faced arraignment in Haverhill District Court as investigators continued to determine whether others were involved in the incident.

Police are urging anyone with information to contact the Haverhill Police as they pursue whether others participated and to uncover full circumstances of the blaze.

Haverhill Fire Chief described the scene as ongoing, with buried hotspots and limited interior access prolonging containment.

No injuries were reported, though investigators noted significant structural damage to the mill, which has stood for more than a century.

Historically, the site has a history of fires, including a seven-alarm blaze in 2015, and the current mill remains largely a shell with exterior walls largely intact.

The city has spent tens of thousands of dollars securing the mill site as investigators continue to monitor for rekindling.

Haverhill Fire Department and the state Fire Marshal’s office are jointly investigating the incident.

Community reflections describe the site as giving the city a ‘black eye,’ even as residents note the wider city remains economically resilient.

The article, dated April 29, 2026, lists Jonah Frangiosa as the writer with an update noted in the afternoon.