UPTON, MA - Upton Fire began receiving calls reporting an explosion in the area of 86 Hartford Ave South shortly before noon on December 8. The dispatch office updated Car 1 that the caller stated there was an explosion in the basement with smoke and fire visible.
Upton Engine 1 quickly reported heavy smoke visible from the center of town. A 2nd alarm was quickly transmitted and the first arriving company reported a 1 story residential dwelling well involved. The fire had quickly taken over the basement, extended up to the main floor and into the attic. Companies quickly stretched multiple lines and had to darken the fire down in the basement and main floor from the exterior as the main floor had been severely burned away. The fire in the attic had burned through the roof and access was limited also due to the main floor of the house being burned away.
Command requested an additional engine over the 2nd alarm from Hopkinton to the fire. Companies had to use ground ladders to access the fire in the attic and also setup a bresnan cellar nozzle. With the bulk of the heavy fire knocked down, companies began the long task of overhauling the severely damaged home. The roof in the rear of the building was sagging in and close to caving in.
The couple who lived in the home were both transported to a local hospital with what appeared to be minor injuries. The cause of the fire is under investigation but may of possibly been started by a welding torch in the basement.
