UPDATE (WKOW) — The Fitchburg Fire Department says it hasn’t determined the cause yet of a large duplex fire that started Thursday night.
The initial call came as a possible explosion and fire at 3039 Woods Edge Way. Flames and heavy smoke were visible when first responders got to the duplex. The fire department requested a box alarm to get help from other agencies.
No one was injured. The American Red Cross is helping two families who were displaced by the fire.
Neighbors tell 27 News the fire was shocking. “It was horrendous,” says Jane Duchemin. She was sitting at home when she saw the flames outside her window.
“Heard the loud boom and I went, ‘That was pretty loud. I wonder what that was….’ and then I heard it again and again.”
Fire crews had to battle not only the fire, but the frigid temperatures. Duchemin describes the scene as chaotic and feels for the families involved. “It’s devastating for something like this to happen during Christmas. It’s just sad, it’s sad to happen to anybody.”
Duchemin expects the neighborhood to step up and help the families. “The people in the neighborhood here are absolutely wonderful. We watch over and take care of each other and everybody cares about each other.”
Fire officials were investigating Friday morning after a long night trying to keep the fire under control. They say the fire started in one side of the two-unit condominium, but both units had significant damage.
The cause and exact location or origin are still unknown, but fire officials say the fire doesn’t look suspicious. The damage estimate is at least $800,000.
More at WKOW 27 News