Two-Alarm Blaze Sends MA Firefighter to Hospital

NATICK, MA—A firefighter was hospitalized Thursday afternoon with undisclosed injuries he received while fighting a two-alarm blaze in the kitchen of the former St. Patrick's School at 45 East Central St.

Fire officials said they found light smoke in the building due to a small fire in the kitchen area, which extinguished itself. Police and fire officials are investigating.

Town officials said the second alarm was struck because of the heat. Temperatures in Natick were in the mid-80s on Thursday afternoon.

The former school is the site of a planned redevelopment.

Dean Calivas, president of Natick-based Stonegate Group, plans to build a mixed-use development at the site. The plan is to tear down the school and replace it with a mixed-use building that includes commercial space on the ground floor and apartments above.

Calivas had hoped to make it all residential but got pushback from the town. In June, selectmen told Calivas and his lawyer they want the commercial space to stay because they said it helps invigorate a downtown area in need of economic vitality. Selectmen believe the market will eventually bounce back, making commercial space attractive.

The project also calls for four two-family townhomes to be erected behind the school building, along with an underground parking garage.

The mixed-use proposal hinges on fall Town Meeting approval of a zoning change for the property.

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