Photo/courtesy Southborough Fire Department
Fires at home and hotel
By Ron Ayotte, Contributing Writer
Marlborough – The typical 24-hour duty tour for any fire department in the Community Advocate’s coverage area is typically busy. Equipment checks, training, district familiarization, medicals and what firefighters call “smells and bells” happen daily.
The firefighters of Marlborough Fire’s Battalion 1 had one of those days Feb. 16, including responding to two fires.
House fire at 32 Framingham Rd.
The first fire was mutual aid to the town of Southborough for a fire at 32 Framingham Road. Engine 3 was at an inspection detail in their district (the east section of Marlborough); the Companies from Fire Headquarters (Car 5, Rescue 1, Tower 1) and Engine 2 from the Pleasant Street firehouse were doing a “walk through familiarization” at 280 Locke Drive when Southborough called for mutual aid to assist them in fighting the fire. Engine 1 went to Southborough (the protocol for the MFD’s mutual aid response is for three firefighters and an officer to respond, one of the firefighters on the walk through was brought back to HQ so Engine 1 could respond with a full complement). Marlborough Car 2 also responded.
Westborough and Ashland Fire also responded mutual aid to the fire, while Framingham Fire covered Southborough’s fire station. One firefighter suffered a minor hand injury fighting the fire.
Fire at Marlborough’s Holiday Inn
The second fire was at the Holiday Inn, 265 Lakeside Avenue. The call came in as a fire alarm activation at approximately 2:30 a.m. Feb. 17. Engine 1, Rescue 1, Tower 1, Car 5 and Engine 2 responded. Engine 2 was first on scene and reported the sprinkler system was activated. This brought Engine 3 to the fire; off duty personnel were called in to staff a reserve engine.
The fire was in one of the hotel rooms, but the hotel’s sprinkler system kept the fire contained to the room of origin. The cause of the fire has not yet been released by the Department’s Fire Investigation Unit.
Ron Ayotte is a former Marlborough Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief.
