Raging fire destroys building in Taunton

TAUNTON, Mass. (WHDH) -- Black smoke filling the air could be seen across Taunton as flames consumed and destroyed an abandoned Taunton building.

For firefighters, it was a losing battle.

“It’s what we call a surround and drown. It’s a mop up job. Keep the guys safe out of collapse zone. There’s potential for some of these unstable walls to come down,” said Tim Bradshaw, Taunton Fire Department.

The fire that broke out Saturday afternoon gutted a former electrical supply warehouse. The building has been vacant for the last five years.

“All the sirens going by and I said something’s going on and I seen all the smoke it’s right down the street, what’s going on?” said a neighbor.

For hours, Taunton firefighters worked to knock down the flames and keep them from spreading to other buildings. Neighbors, with cameras captured last pictures of a building that had long been part of the neighborhood.

“Just another part of Taunton gone. Another old factory, part of history, sad to see,” said another neighbor.

Investigators are still looking into the cause of the fire.