GRAFTON – A building on Main Street that housed the Valley Plaza Liquor Store had to be torn down after a fire on Monday, Oct. 16.
At 9 p.m., Grafton Fire responded to a call for a structure fire at 43 Main St. in South Grafton, a plaza that includes the liquor store and an audiology practice.
According to Grafton Fire Chief Eric Mathieu, the fire was visible in the rear of the building and heavy smoke was showing from the roof. Cars 1 and 2, along with four engines, 1 tower ladder, two command vehicles and two specialty units, arrived on scene.
After overcoming a water supply issue, firefighters were able to knock down the fire, and kept it from spreading to an adjoining business.
The fire was brought under control in an hour and a half, but crews remained on scene, salvaging the tenant’s belongings, checking for extension and overhauling of the fire. The overhaul took numerous hours, and heavy equipment was used to demolish the fire-damaged part of the building to make sure all hot spots were extinguished.
Grafton Police closed a portion of Main Street (Route 122A) to traffic during the fire. Grafton Fire cleared the scene at 3 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 17.
One firefighter was treated on scene for exhaustion; no other injuries were reported.
Due to the fire, heat, and water damage to the building, the town’s Building Department and Wiring inspector were called to the scene to inspect the structure. The building was deemed unsafe and needed to be taken down.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by Grafton Police, the State Fire Marshal’s office, and the Massachusetts Fire District 7 Fire Investigation Unit.
The fire departments from Millbury, Northbridge and Upton provided station coverage, while Westborough and Sutton assisted at the scene.
