WESTBOROUGH – A faulty electrical appliance was the apparent cause of a fire that led to a portion of the Arrive apartment complex at 293 Turnpike Road becoming uninhabitable.
The investigation into the cause was conducted by the town’s Fire Investigation Unit, made up of personnel from Westborough Police and Fire.
According to Fire Chief Patrick Purcell, the department was called to Arrive around 8:41 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 9, on reports of heavy smoke coming from a seventh-floor apartment.
On arrival, firefighters from Engine 4 went to the seventh floor and discovered heavy smoke in the south side and a fire in Apartment 716. Westborough’s Truck 1 and Engine 2 were called in, along with crews from neighboring towns.
According to Purcell, two sprinkler heads with Apartment 716 were activated; the fire was contained to one room and quickly extinguished.
Meanwhile, firefighters evacuated residents from the building and, using fans, ventilated the smoke from the area.
Although the fire was knocked down quickly, there was water damage that extended from the seventh floor to the basement. According to Purcell, damage has been estimated at $2 million. He said the department had to shut off the water and utilities; the southern part of that building was declared uninhabitable.
One civilian was transported by Westborough paramedics to a local hospital with non life-threatening injuries. Another civilian had a hand injury, but did not require a trip to the hospital.
Currently, the occupants of all 177 apartments (466 registered tenants) have been displaced by the fire. They are receiving housing assistance from the Red Cross, Westborough’s Public Health director, Arrive management and the Fire Department.
Fire personnel from Grafton, Northborough and Southborough provided assistance.
