By Kevin Keenan
TELEGRAM & GAZETTE (Massachusetts)
Copyright 2006 Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
MARLBORO, Mass. — A two-alarm fire caused serious damage to a large two-family home on Neil Street last night.
When firefighters arrived at about 7:15 p.m., they found flames shooting out of the front porch at 95 Neil St. No one was home at the time of the fire, said Capt. John McGrath.
Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames in the house and bring the fire under control quickly, Capt. McGrath said. Once the fire was under control, firefighters checked the rest of the house. There were periodic bursts from the hoses as firefighters took precautions against any possible flare-ups. Neighbors stood on porches and driveways and stared at the smoke and at broken windows that marred the house. A heavy smell of smoke permeated the densely populated neighborhood, near the intersection of Routes 20 and 85.
One firefighter suffered what was believed to be heat exhaustion, Capt. McGrath said. The firefighter was taken by ambulance to Marlboro Hospital, he said.
Power was shut off to the neighborhood while firefighters went inside the house and looked for smoke. A large fan was placed inside the front entryway to ventilate the smoke. Around 8:30 p.m., power was restored to the neighborhood. Neil Street, which is one-way, was closed to traffic in the vicinity.
Most of the fire damage was confined to the front porch area on the first floor, though the rest of the home suffered extensive water and smoke damage, Capt. McGrath said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
