3rd Person Dies After Worcester 5-Alarm Fire

WORCESTER, MA — A third person has died following a major five-alarm fire in Worcester Friday night.

Woodrow Adams Jr. said Saturday his grandmother and uncle, Edna Mae Williams and Gerald Prince died in the Friday fire. His father, Woodrow Adams Sr., died at a hospital in Boston on Saturday. The senior Adams jumped from a porch to escape the fire on Friday.

Woodrow Adams Jr. started a GoFundMe page for his family. The page has a goal of raising $100,000 and has raised nearly $70,000 by the end of the day Saturday.

The fire broke out around 7:30 p.m. Saturday at 11 and 13 Jaques Ave. The triple-decker at 13 Jaques Ave. was where Adams Jr's family lived.

The Jaques Avenue fire was the second major fire of the day in Worcester. Early Friday morning, firefighters responded to a three-alarm fire at 14 Williams St. that left at least one adult and several children displaced, according to the Red Cross.

Worcester City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. issued a statement late Friday on the two fires.

“This has been an extremely trying day for our community, with a 3 alarm fire earlier on William Street, and a 5-alarm fire on Jaques Ave. that has claimed the lives of at least two people, with another individual suffering life-threatening injuries,” he said. “Our hearts go out to the families and friends of each victim. Both fires have displaced numerous people and left them in need of immediate support. We are thankful for the responses of emergency agencies such as MEMA and the American Red Cross to help them. We extend our deepest gratitude for the brave and selfless efforts of firefighters and emergency personnel who worked the scene at each blaze. They have battled frigid temperatures and weather conditions that have created challenging situations for everyone involved. In this time of tragedy, the survivors and victims are in our thoughts and prayers.”