Raw video: Six alarms in Uxbridge, MA. Three firefighters with heat exhaustion. 100 wedding dresses saved.
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Video from Matt Gregoire (sparkywfd) of Providence Fire Videos of yesterday’s six-alarm fire in a historic bank building at 32 South Main Street in Uxbridge, Massachusetts that had apartments on the upper floors and retail on the ground floor. It was a hot day that left three firefighters with heat exhaustion. The building is across the street from the Uxbridge firehouse (25 South Main Street). One of the businesses destroyed was a bridal shop where a bridal party was getting dresses fitted when the fire broke out (watch story below). Here’s what Matt wrote about the fire:
6 alarms plus a district 7 structural task force were needed to extinguish this massive blaze in the downtown section of Uxbridge, Ma around 2pm on July 18, 2013.
What originally came in as a fire alarm, calls later reported smoke on the 3rd floor. Firefighters arrived and encountered heavy smoke on the 3rd floor. With temperatures in the mid 90’s and the heat index at over 100 degrees, the chief wasted no time in getting help to the fire. A quick 2nd, 3rd and 4th alarms were transmitted.
All the tenants were able to get out safely and many of the wedding dresses in the Bridal store were salvaged thanks to the quick action of employees and passer-byers.
It took almost 3 hours to bring the fire under control. Several firefighters were treated for heat related injuries.
The fate of the 118-year-old Bank Building was sealed within three hours Thursday afternoon. The three-story late Victorian-style building, in downtown Uxbridge across the street from the Fire Department, was placed on the National Registery of Historic Places 30 years ago.
Fire Chief William T. Kessler said heavy smoke was billowing from the third floor when firefighters arrived, with flames showing on the first, second and third floors. The call came in shortly before 2 p.m., he said.
“Shortly before our arrival, we got a report of smoke coming out of windows. We tried taking the third floor with the lines. Before we could get up there, there was heavy smoke on the whole third floor, fire showing out the bravo (left) side.”
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