Marlborough firefighters battle 6-alarm blaze

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. (WHDH) -- A six-alarm fire tore through an apartment building in Marlborough Monday morning.

According to authorities, the fire broke out at about 9:30 a.m. on the upper floors of the four-story Lake Williams condominium complex.

“I was sleeping and they called us and the fire…they tell us to leave the place,” said Carlos Mayimo, a fire victim.

All residents were able to safely evacuate the 32-unit building, but important possessions were left behind, only to be destroyed by the flames.

“It’s a shame. We hope that everybody’s okay obviously, but what can you do? You know?” said Heather McGuire.

Heather McGuire, whose mother is battling cancer, and her fiancé are planning to get married in a few days.

“I can’t believe my wedding’s on Saturday,” McGuire said. “And all the stuff is in that [building], including my wedding dress. The bridesmaids’ dresses, our passports, all our stuff for the wedding is in there.”

But little did McGuire know, her fiance had taken her wedding dress from the apartment a couple days ago, so McGuire will be wearing her dress down the aisle after all.

"I brought it over there a couple days ago and she didn't know it. The dress is safe and sound [at McGuire's mother's house]," said Toby Bourke, McGuire's fiance.

"I'm glad the dress is safe and sound," said McGuire.

Although the couple lost important wedding items in the fire, they still plan to marry this weekend.

There was good news for Al Babitts, who was at work when the fire occurred. Firefighters were able to rescue his dog, April, from his apartment.

“I have this big thing on my door that says, ‘I have a dog inside,’ so they knew when they walked up the hallway that I had a dog in there,” said Al Babitts. “She’s all I care about.”

Authorities say the fire, which grew to six-alarms, started in one of the top units of the four-story building.

Firefighters tried attacking the flames from the side, but the smoke and flames proved to be too strong.

“We actually did it a couple times. We backed out of the delta side. We backed out of there, and then attempted to make entry again in the bravo end just to cut it off,” said Acting Chief James Fortin, Marlborough Fire Department.

“There’s a lot of friends that I have there that lost everything. Very sad for them,” said Gardenia Pratt, a fire victim.

Several other nearby buildings and homes were evacuated as a precaution, and The Red Cross is assisting dozens of displaced families.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.