MIDDLEBOROUGH – Chief Lance Benjamino reports that the Middleborough Fire Department extinguished a 3-alarm fire that had spread across two buildings on Wareham Street Thursday night.
At approximately 5:53 p.m. Middleborough Fire Department received several 911 calls about a fire at 9 Wareham St. Upon arrival at the scene the shift commander reported that the fire at the 3-story multi-family dwelling at 9 Wareham St. had spread to the adjacent 2 1/2 story mixed-use building at 7 Wareham St.
Approximately 4 minutes after arrival the second alarm was struck, and 10 minutes after arrival a third alarm was struck. Due to the age of the building, which was built in the 1800s, the aggressive fire quickly extended through all three floors of 9 Wareham St. and into the second and third floors of 7 Wareham St., jumping across the 10 to 15 foot gap between the two buildings via the vinyl siding and sofit.
Firefighters attacked the flames at both buildings for close to three hours. The fire was knocked out at 7 Wareham St first and was completely extinguished at 9 Wareham St. around 8:50 p.m.
All occupants were able to safely exit the house before first responders arrived. Two families were displaced from 9 Wareham St. No injuries were reported.
Mutual aid at the scene was provided by the Carver, Bridgewater, Wareham, East Bridgewater, Plympton, and Halifax Fire Departments.
Both buildings sustained significant damage, and 9 Wareham St. is uninhabitable.
The cause remains under investigation by the Middleborough Fire Department and State Police assigned to the Office of the State Fire Marshal. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) also responded to the scene to assist with the investigation.
“This was the third significant fire Middleborough Fire Department has responded to in two days,” said Chief Benjamino. “Thankfully no injuries have resulted, and we’ve been able to call on several department’s in the area to support our firefighting efforts.”
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