Firefighters from two states battled a school building fire on Wednesday, Feb. 9 in Ashburnham, Mass. The four-alarm fire broke out at the Cushing Academy's staff residence building on Central Street.
The fire was reported at 2 p.m. and heavily damaged the three-story building. The fire started in a barn attached to the home and quickly spread into the structure.
Crews found heavy smoke in the house and tried to chase the fire as it spread through the home.
Strong winds helped spread the fire, forcing fire crews to withdraw from the interior and to perform exterior operations.
Fire departments were called on mutual aid from Ashby, Fitchburg, Gardner, Townsend, Westminster and Winchendon, Mass. as well as New Ipswich and Rindge, N.H.
