UPDATE: Fire Destroys Apartments at Park Village

UPDATE, Feb. 21, 2:30 p.m. — At least six to twelve families have been displaced after a 4-alarm fire destroyed two apartments in the Park Village complex across from McDonalds on East Main Street. The blaze is responsible for sending two Westborough firefighters and an apartment maintenance worker to UMass Memorial Medical Center with non life threatening injuries.

Around 1:30 p.m., a disaster team from the American Red Cross arrived at the apartment complex to assist displaced residents.

“They will check for vacant apartments within the complex,” said Westborough Fire Department Capt. Phil Kittredge. “They arrange for housing. If they need to, they will help to get the families into area motels or hotels.”

Kittredge was not sure of the exact number of residents who are displaced by the fire. He said that Westborough building inspector Tin Tway is at the scene assessing the damage along with state fire investigators.

While the fire is contained to two apartments, water and smoke damage can spread to other apartments, Kittredge explained. He said the power company has also been called in to inspect for possible electrical damage.

“You never know how much damage there is until [the inspectors] get in there,” Kittredge said. “When we had the fire at Fountainhead [Apartments] four or five years ago, it was contained to just two apartments, but the entire building had to vacate for a whole month.”

According to Westborough Police Chief Alan Gordon, one Westborough firefighter fell through the floor of one of the burning apartments. Gordon was not sure of the nature of the other two injured men, but he suspected the injuries were related to smoke inhalation.

The fire started just before 11 a.m. and escalated to four alarms in about an hour. Firefighters from Marlborough, Upton, Grafton, Southborough, Ashland, Northborough, Hudson, Shrewsbury, Berlin and Boylston were called to assist.

At the peak of the blaze, smoke filled the parking lot, which was filled with first responders and dozens of onlookers. Kittredge said four to five ambulances were called to the fire scene.

The fire appeared be primarily located in the top, corner unit of Building G. The primary structure of that building holds 12 apartment units, though Kittredge said that the buildings are all connected in some way.

Firefighters were seen sawing through the roof of that building in several locations. Two residents of the complex told Westborough Patch that the units involved were two bedroom apartments. There are no reported injuries to residents.

The cause of the fire is unknown and still under investigation, Kittredge said.

UPDATE, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 12:45 p.m. — Firefighters remain at the scene of a four-alarm fire in Westborough at this hour. At least two apartments in the Park Village Apartments complex have been destroyed by the blaze. The American Red Cross has been called to the scene to attend to an estimated six to 12 families that have been displaced.

According to Westborough Police Chief Alan Gordon, two firefighters and an apartment maintenance worker have been taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries. One Westborough firefighter fell through the floor of one of the burning apartments. Gordon was not sure of the nature of the other injuries, but he suspected they were related to smoke inhalation.

Westborough firefighters were called to the scene at about 10:50 a.m. The fire quickly escalated and was declared a 4-alarm fire by 12 p.m. Firefighters from Marlborough, Upton, Grafton, Southborough, Ashland, Northborough, Hudson, Shrewsbury, Berlin, West Boylston and Boylston were called to assist.

Helicopters from Boston television stations could be seen hovering above the blaze. Smoke filled the parking lot which was filled with first responders and dozens of onlookers.

The fire appeared be primarily located in the top, corner unit of Building G. The buiding containing the blaze holds 12 apartment units.

Shortly after 11:30 a.m., firefighters were seen sawing through the roof of that building in several locations. Two residents of the complex told Westborough Patch that the units involved were two bedroom apartments. No injuries to residents were reported, Gordon said.

At 12:10 p.m., fire officials at the scene were requesting assistance to keep residents from trying to return to the building.

Tuesday, Feb. 21, 12:10 p.m. — Westborough firefighters are currently on the scene of a four-alarm fire at the Park Village apartments near the intersection of Routes 9 ad 30. Two firefighters and one apartment maintenance worker have been taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

According to Westborough Police Chief Alan Gordon, at least two apartment units in Building G have been destroyed in the fire. He said that one firefighter fell through the floor of one of the apartments and was taken to the hospital. His injuries are not life threatening.

Currently, firefighters from Marlborough, Upton and Grafton are on scene. Stay tuned to Westborough Patch for more details.