Worcester, MA ~ Five 3rd floor residents were rescued over ground ladders as heavy fire was erupting from the front of 3 Hitchcock Road in Worcester’s Webster Square section of the city on May 4, 2013. First arriving companies struck a second alarm as they had heavy rolling fire from the first floor front of this 3-story balloon constructed wood frame apartment building. The fire was overlapping upwards through the front porches to the roofline.
Black chocking smoke was erupting from the entire structure as the firefighters made the rescues over ground ladders. Hose lines were aggressively placed into action on all floors trying to get a handle on the fast moving blaze. Ladder companies opened the roof to allow the super heated gases to vent off of the interior crews.
Firefighters made their way to the 3rd floor attic scuttle and reported that the fire had extended upwards and was now rolling in loft. They had a hand line trying to get a knock down from the hatch. The OIC struck a 3rd alarm due to the amount of fire and size of the structure. The fire began to self vent through the roof line on side-A but was quickly contained by Ladder 3’s master stream.
Companies worked all floors opening up and extinguishing the heavy fire before it could destroy the rest of the building. Aggressive operations had the fire under control in roughly 2 hours. Seven residents were transported to local hospitals for evaluation purposes. The building appeared to be a total loss. The fire appears to have been sparked by a candle that spread to a window curtain on the first floor. The first floor resident states that she dozed off and awoke to she the curtains in flames.
Black chocking smoke was erupting from the entire structure as the firefighters made the rescues over ground ladders. Hose lines were aggressively placed into action on all floors trying to get a handle on the fast moving blaze. Ladder companies opened the roof to allow the super heated gases to vent off of the interior crews.
Firefighters made their way to the 3rd floor attic scuttle and reported that the fire had extended upwards and was now rolling in loft. They had a hand line trying to get a knock down from the hatch. The OIC struck a 3rd alarm due to the amount of fire and size of the structure. The fire began to self vent through the roof line on side-A but was quickly contained by Ladder 3’s master stream.
Companies worked all floors opening up and extinguishing the heavy fire before it could destroy the rest of the building. Aggressive operations had the fire under control in roughly 2 hours. Seven residents were transported to local hospitals for evaluation purposes. The building appeared to be a total loss. The fire appears to have been sparked by a candle that spread to a window curtain on the first floor. The first floor resident states that she dozed off and awoke to she the curtains in flames.
Ken LaBelle
Capt Town of Lincoln Fire/Rescue 4
NRIFirePhotos.com
Capt Town of Lincoln Fire/Rescue 4
NRIFirePhotos.com
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