Sept. 07 -- WEBSTER, MA -- Three firefighters were injured Thursday fighting a fire that heavily damaged a home at 18 Day Lane.
Fire Chief Brian Hickey said the three firefighters were taken by ambulance to a local hospital during the three-alarm fire. He said two firefighters suffered heat exhaustion and dehydration, and one fell through a stairwell. He said all three were expected to be treated and released Thursday night.
Smoke bellowed from the roof of the two-story home at the end of a short dead-end street. Pockets of fire shot out as tower trucks from Webster and Dudley sprayed water on the house. After the bulk of the fire was knocked down, firefighters from Webster and several surrounding towns went in and overhauled the structure.
Chief Hickey said firefighters arrived around 4:40 p.m. to find the second floor showing heavy smoke coming from the eaves. He said there was fire in the attic but there was no access; firefighters had to pull down a false ceiling and the original ceiling before they could get up there.
The fire started around the time thunderstorms passed through the area. Chief Hickey would not confirm the fire was started by a lightning strike, but noted that the timing, along with most of the damage being confined to the second floor, indicated lightning could be the cause. He said someone from the state fire marshal's office arrived to assist with the investigation.
Six people were displaced, the chief said. They were all able to get out of the house safely, and were being interviewed by the American Red Cross Thursday night.
Firefighters started packing up equipment and leaving around 7:45 p.m. Firefighters from Charlton, Dudley, Oxford, Quinebaug, Southbridge and Sutton helped fight the blaze.
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