jJust before 6:30 PM, Group 3 Firefighters responded to a call at 50 Central Street regarding smoke inside the Bubbles Up Laundrymat building.
NC2 arrived on scene in under 2 minutes, where Shift Commander Captain Chris Campillio observed smoke and flames visible through the roof of a single-story commercial structure. He immediately declared a working fire, prompting the dispatch of a Westwood Engine to the site and a Walpole Engine for station coverage. Engine 3 and Ladder 1, alongside the Westwood engine, ascended to the roof, while Squad 2, NA-2, and NA-3 worked from below to access the fire.
The fire had spread rapidly along the roofline, complicated by various renovations over the years, making it challenging to contain. A second alarm was sounded, summoning additional resources: engines from Walpole, Sharon, and Norfolk, as well as a ladder truck from Canton, to relieve the initial crews. As the situation intensified, a third alarm was issued, bringing engines from Stoughton, Needham, Foxboro, and a ladder from Dedham to the scene. Firefighters from all companies labored for over two hours to suppress the fire and prevent it from spreading to neighboring buildings.
Fortunately, there were no injuries reported among firefighters or civilians. At present, the extent of the damage remains undetermined, with Norwood Fire investigators actively working to ascertain the cause.
The Norwood Fire Department extends its sincere gratitude to the mutual aid partners who assisted during the fire, and acknowledges the Avon, Easton, Dover, and Mansfield crews who provided coverage for local stations. Special thanks are also extended to the Providence Canteen for their invaluable rehab services, and to community members who generously provided water, Gatorade, and cold towels to firefighters working under challenging conditions, exacerbated by high temperatures.
(Story and images from the Norwood Fire Department Facebook Page)