Jeanette DeForge
masslive.com
(MCT)
ORANGE – Following a massive blaze that destroyed a vacant and crumbling cereal factory and four other buildings in Franklin County, a $5,000 reward is being offered for information about the cause of the fire.
The reward, offered through the Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association’s Arson Watch program, specifically is asking for information about “who did this.” However, fire investigators said the cause of the blaze has not been determined.
“Investigators will be returning to the scene today,” said Jake Wark, spokesman for the State Fire Marshal’s office. The origin and cause of the fire are being investigated by Orange Fire and Police departments and the Massachusetts State Police Fire and Explosion Unit connected to the Fire Marshal’s Office.
The fire was initially reported at about 11:45 a.m., Saturday, at the mill on 16 West River St. When firefighters arrived, they found heavy smoke and flames coming from the vacant mill. The fire spread to four other buildings in the area including one on East River Street, Wark said in a written statement.
The fire was massive. More than 20 fire departments responded and it took hours to contain the spreading flames. Four hours after it was reported, firefighters were still trying to extinguish the fire, he said.
No firefighters were hurt during the effort but two civilians reported injuries that were treated at the scene, Wark said.
While officials stopped counting after five alarms were sounded, the response from regional fire departments was equivalent to a six- or seven-alarm fire, Orange Fire Chief James Young said in writing.
The state’s fire mobilization plan was activated and two statewide task forces arrived to assist area departments at the scene, Wark said.
消防队员仍在一夜之间建立一个d will continue to watch the area, Wark said.
“The site of the building fire on West River St will be smoking for quite a while. We’ll be monitoring it regularly and will send crews over if/when needed,” Orange Fire Department officials posted on their Facebook page.
The factory, constructed in 1890, measures about 59,000 square feet, according to the Town of Orange assessor’s department. The building has been vacant for some time and is in such a state of deterioration that the town closed West River Street, between South Main and Pleasant streets, in March.
Town officials posted a statement about the closure on the website, explaining they were working to make the building safe but finding a solution was complicated because the building is privately owned.
“It’s true that the building has been deteriorating over the years, however, a very recent engineering survey has shown that the situation has gotten worse. Due to the results of the engineering survey, it was deemed unsafe for vehicular traffic and pedestrian traffic to be on that portion of West River St.,” it said.
Anyone with information about the fire is urged to call police at 978-544-2128 or the Arson Watch program at 800-682-9229.
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