Fire hits Northborough Road commercial building

December 22, 2007

Southborough Firefighters responded to a fire alarm sounding at 155 Northborough Road at 12:20 PM in Engines 21 and 23. Upon arrival, the four on-duty members received a report from a tenant in the large multi-occupancy commercial warehouse that smoke was entering his tenant space. Further investigation revealed heavy smoke showing from the ventilation system in one portion of the building. A full first alarm was requested. Due to limited manpower, and Southborough’s aerial ladder being out of service, a ladder truck was requested from the Marlborough Fire Department, and an engine was requested from the Northborough Fire Department to assist Southborough Firefighters.

Firefighters entered a portion of the building occupied by Scotts Lawn Service to find heavy black smoke resulting in zero visibility, and the building’s fire sprinkler system operating. Using thermal imaging equipment, firefighters located the fire in a van, one of 12 vehicles parked in the building, fully involved in fire.

A second alarm was requested at 12:39 PM which brought in an engine from the Marlborough Fire Department and an engine from the Westborough Fire Department to the fire. Hopkinton Fire provided an engine, and Framingham an ambulance to cover the Southborough Fire Station (during the initial stages of the fire, an ambulance was requested on Route 9 for a patient involved in an earlier accident. The Westborough Fire Department provided an ambulance for this incident).

The fire in the vehicle within the building was brought under control by 12:53 PM, however firefighters had two concerns: water from the fire sprinkler system allowed several types of lawn chemicals and pesticides to mix and were also combined with oil and hydraulic fluid which was released from the burned van creating a hazardous materials incident. Also, smoke had entered several different tenant spaces and had to be removed from the building.

Firefighters used hazardous materials absorbent booms and pads to contain the water, chemical and petroleum product run-off. Additional equipment and supplies were requested from the Northborough and Berlin Fire Departments for this task.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management responded and took samples in the water run-off, as well as air samples within the building.

A hazardous materials clean-up company responded to handle the contamination.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by troopers assigned to the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal’s Office, and members of the Southborough Fire Department Fire Investigation Unit.

The last fire apparatus left the scene at 7:28 PM.

No injuries were reported.

Damage estimates are unavailable at this time. One van was destroyed, the 11 other vehicles received smoke damage. Water damage was contained to the Scotts warehouse, and smoke damage affected at total of four separate tenant spaces.

Smoke showing from the doorway as firefighters start to fight the fire. Two firefighters stretched this 2" attack line into the building to search for the fire, which the other two members on duty operated the pumps, established a water supply from the hydrant, and fed the fire sprinkler system.

Northborough Fire Chief David Durgin (left) directs his crews as Marlborough Firefighters raise their ladder truck's aerial ladder to the roof.

Northborough's Engine 2 and Car 1

Engine 23 laid a 4" supply from the hydrant to supply the building's fire sprinkler system was well as Engine 21, which provided the fire attack and back-up lines.

Two hose lines enter the building - the second line from Engine 21 was brought in by the four-person crew from the Northborough Fire Department.

Marlborough firefighters check the roof.

Smoke pours from the building as firefighters make progress extinguishing the fire inside.

Marlborough Ladder 2 and Southborough Engine 21

Marlborough Ladder 2's crew

The Incident Command Post was established at the Command Vehicle (Car 20).

Southborough Ambulance 28, Marlborough Engine 2, Westborough Engine 4, Northborough Engine 2, and Northborough Car 1 on scene providing assistance.

Northborough Fire Chief David Durgin, Westborough Deputy Chief Calvin Lawrence, Southborough Fire Chief John Mauro at the ICP.