Northborough – When a major fire strikes, it is often a collaborative effort between that town’s department and those from surrounding communities that get the situation under control. That was the case June 2 when firefighters from around the region were called on to assist the Northborough Fire Department in a 4-alarm blaze at the site of the old R&T Furniture store. The building, located at 40 West Main St., in the center of town, had been vacant for a number of years.
According to a report from Northborough Fire Chief David Parenti, mutual aid was received from: Ashland, Berlin, Boylston, District 14 Car 14, DFS Drone Support, DFS Rehab Unit Hopkinton, Hudson, Marlborough, Milford, Patriot Ambulance, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Westborough, West Boylston, Worcester EMS, Worcester Box 4 Canteen, Westborough Explorers and Berlin Explorers.
One firefighter was transported for minor injuries and released later that night.
Parenti noted that although the fire was fortunately contained to the building, there were several other losses. Several cars stored at 36 West Main St. were damaged when the east wall of the fire building came down. And due to the topography behind the fire building a large amount of water accumulated in the yard behind 9 Church St., which then ended up flooding into the basement.
Additionally approximately 68 gallons of hydraulic fluid spilled onto the ground and migrated into the catch basin and into the Cold Harbor Brook after a hydraulic line failure in one Marlborough truck. The Department of Environmental Protection was notified of the spill and Marlborough firefighters deployed pads and booms to help contain the spill.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and remains under investigation.
Photos/Melanie Petrucci
