Southbridge, MA – Dozens of people were displaced after a fire tore through two 3-deckers on Union St early Wednesday morning. Working fire alarms are credited with saving numerous lives.
At approximately 3:25 AM on Wednesday, November 13th, 2024, a 1st alarm assignment was struck for a reported building fire at 7-9 Union St. Upon arrival, crews found heavy fire showing from two neighboring 3-deckers, 7-9 and 11-13 Union St, and multiple vehicles parked between the buildings. The fire officer on the scene immediately requested a 2nd and 3rd alarm bringing in mutual aid companies from multiple towns.
The first due Southbridge companies were able to quickly knock down a bulk of the exterior fire but not before the well-advanced fire made its way into the walls and cockloft of the buildings. The fire eventually escalated to a 7th alarm, bringing in departments from Worcester to Woodstock (CT), as crews performed the labor-intensive work of extinguishing the fire within pockets of the buildings.
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Several specialized units were brought in to assist with the large-scale incident, these included the Department of Fire Services (DFS) Rehabilitation Unit, DFS Incident Support Unit, and the Special Signal Association Providence Canteen. The Department of Public Works was also requested to treat the roads in the area as crews faced icing conditions while fighting the fire in ~30F temperatures.
According to Chief Paul Normandin, Southbridge Fire Department, the fire was placed under control at approximately 6:15 AM. One firefighter was transported to UMass Memorial Harrington Hospital (Southbridge) for a hand injury, no other injuries were reported by residents or responders. Chief Normandin went on to state “I want to emphasize the vital importance of working smoke alarm here. This was a fast-moving fire in the dead of night. Without working smoke alarms alerting people to the danger, we would be having a different conversation.” Approximately 30 residents were displaced by the fire.
The origin of the fire is currently under investigation by the Southbridge Fire Department, Southbridge Police Department, and State Police fire investigators assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Departments that responded or were dispatched included the Southbridge Fire Department, Dudley Fire Department, Charlton Fire Department, Webster EMS, Sturbridge Fire Department, Spencer Fire Department, Webster Fire Rescue, Auburn Fire Department, Muddy Brook Fire Department, Bungay Fire Brigade, Oxford Fire Department, Quinebaug Volunteer Fire Department, Leicester Fire Department, Leicester EMS, Brimfield Fire Department, North Brookfield Fire Department, Special Signal Association Providence Canteen, Massachusetts Department of Fire Service, Worcester Fire Department, Southbridge Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, District 7 East 1 Structural Strike Team: Upton Fire Department, Northbridge Fire Department, Grafton Fire Department, Milbury Fire Department, Sutton Fire Department.
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