07/14/2016 - BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS (PLYMOUTH COUNTY) - At approximately 2029 hours on the evening of Thursday, July 14, 2016 the Brockton Fire Department began receiving calls for a building fire at 243 North Montello Street, at the corner of Elliot Street. Box-4111 was struck and Squad-A, Engine-7, Engine-3, Ladder-1 and Car-56 responded on the initial alarm of fire. Companies arrived to find smoke showing from the old Antiques and Restoration warehouse building and a working fire was requested, bringing Ladder-4 to the scene, Engine-2 as the RIT company, and Brewster EMS Medic-3 and CA-8. Shortly there after, a second alarm was struck, with the request for an additional ladder truck, which was provided by Abington Tower-1. From there, heavy fire began taking over the three story wood framed commercial building, that was nearly the size of an entire block. Companies backed out of the building and began defensive operations. Additional alarms were requested, finally resulting in a seven alarm building fire. As firefighters used large hand lines, and ladder pipes, sections of the old building collapsed into itself. Heavy fire shot through different sections of the roof during the blaze. The building was occupied by a company called Bay State Resorations, which restored furniture. The massive fire melted siding on several adjacent houses. Electricity was cut to the area for safety reasons, leaving area residents in the dark for hours. Some residents were evacuated as a precaution. The MBTA commuter rail Middleboro line was shut down, because the building ran adjacent to the tracks. In total, seventeen engines, and five ladder trucks responded to and operated at the seven alarm fire at 243 North Montello Street. Mutual aid that responded to the fire include engines from Avon, Bridgewater, Easton, Holbrook, Randolph, Raynham, Rockland, Stoughton, West Bridgewater and Whitman, and ladder companies from Abington, East Bridgewater, and Stoughton. Mutual aid companies from Braintree, Hanover, Middleboro, Weymouth, and Bridgewater covered Brockton's firehouses during the fire. While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, early reports state that occupants of the building were working on a vehicle in the garage area. The car reportedly backfired, igniting gasoline that was nearby. The occupants escaped the building without injury, and called the fire department. One firefighter from Whitman was transported from the scene with an unknown injury.
