Worcester apartment building evacuated; firefighters confine fire to one apartment

WORCESTER — A Main South neighborhood apartment complex was evacuated after a small fire, which crews knocked down in 20 minutes. No injuries were reported.

Shortly after noon Tuesday, the Fire Department received a box alarm from the Marble Street Apartments at 11 Marble St., according to Assistant Fire Chief Adam Roche.

Upon arrival, crews found a smoke condition on the second floor and, subsequently, a fire in one of the apartments on that floor, Roche said.

“The fire was quickly knocked down but it caused a smoke condition on floor number two and the floor above that required evacuation,” Roche said. “Crews did a great job evacuating the building, just as a precaution to make sure that everybody was safe. And there were no injuries. We’re always happen to that.”

A second alarm was called to help with evacuation of the tenants and ventilation, Roche said.

“The fire was under control in 20 minutes,” Roche said. “There were zero injuries reported. And the number of people currently displaced is unknown.”

Roche said he expects a large amount of the tenants to be able to return before the end of the night. In the early afternoon, crews were testing air quality with meters, he said.

“The fire really affected one apartment and some of the floors above with smoke,” Roche said. “No exposures. It was contained in the original fire compartment.”

The cause and the origin of the fire are being investigated, Roche said.

“This is a big building with a lot of people,” Roche said. “It took a lot of resources. We called in extra resources to make sure we could evacuate the building, but, hopefully, most of these people can return.”

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester apartment building evacuated; firefighters confine fire to one apartment