In the early hours of Sunday morning, Westborough firefighters successfully saved two individuals trapped on the roof of a burning building in the Massachusetts town. Fire Chief Patrick Purcell reported that the incident occurred at around 1:55 a.m. upon receiving a call regarding a fire at 22-26 South St., a mixed-use building with businesses on the ground floor and apartments above.

Upon arrival, firefighters encountered intense flames at the rear of the structure, as well as two people desperately seeking refuge on the roof. These individuals were identified as a long-time resident of the building and his girlfriend. The panicked resident recounted, "The alarms went off. We raced around the apartment to see what was going on. We opened the doorway to the stairs to exit, and smoke was coming up. We had split seconds to figure out what to do."

With swift action, Westborough firefighters were able to rescue the man and his girlfriend using ground ladders before aggressively tackling the fire. The blaze was eventually brought under control at approximately 2:40 a.m. Both the rescued individuals suffered minor smoke inhalation but declined medical treatment. Thankfully, no injuries were reported as a result of the fire.

Chief Purcell expressed gratitude for the strategically placed firehouse downtown, enabling the firefighters to quickly deploy ladders and safely rescue the trapped individuals. He also mentioned that there were initial reports of a missing person, prompting primary searches on the upper floors, which turned out to be negative. It was later discovered that the person had returned home after a night out.

The South Street building incurred an estimated $1 million in damages due to the fire. Purcell noted that a Thai restaurant within the premises and an unoccupied storefront were particularly affected. Video footage from the scene depicts a work van parked at the rear of the building also suffering extensive damage. The exact cause of the fire is presently under investigation.

The heroic actions of the Westborough firefighters undoubtedly saved lives, as their swift response allowed for the safe rescue of the two individuals trapped on the roof. Efforts to rebuild and investigate the cause of the fire are now underway, highlighting the resilience and commitment of both the local community and the firefighting personnel.