250 residents displaced by Westborough fire still not able to return

WESTBOROUGH, Mass. — About 250 residents were forced to find another place to stay overnight after a fire in a mechanical room damaged their Westborough apartment building. They may also need to find a place to stay for another night.

Firefighters were called to Fountainhead Apartments at 297 Turnpike Road (Route 9) around 6:15 p.m. Monday.

Westborough Fire Chief Patrick Purcell told Boston 25 News the fire started in a mechanical room for the elevator, which is located on the roof of the building.  The fire was contained to the mechanical room, but as a result of the firefighting activities, all 250 residents in the main building were displaced.

Tenants who returned to the apartment Tuesday morning to see if they could get into their apartment were told by management that the building remains closed and residents may have to get another hotel room or stay elsewhere Tuesday night as the building is still deemed unlivable.

One tenant said he came home late Monday from Cape Cod and had not yet heard about the fire, or that he'd need to find another place to sleep for the night. "There was no notification or anything like that, we weren’t told, no email, we just showed up," said Jonathon Bliss.

Bliss was able to get some of his belongings but was not allowed to sleep in his apartment.

Once the property management company confirms that electricity to the building has been restored and the elevators, fire alarms, and emergency lights are working, the fire department will return to check out the building, the fire chief said.

The fire chief said it is the property manager's responsibility to arrange alternate accommodations for everyone that lives in the building. Boston 25 News has reached out to the company that manages the building but have not yet heard back.

The company posted this statement on their Facebook page Tuesday to Fountainhead residents, noting "All homes are ok and we are working on the mechanical equipment."

Cox Media Group