A devastating inferno engulfed the historic Oakhurst Manor in Northbridge, Massachusetts, leading to a massive fire operation earlier today. Firefighters were called to the scene at 120 Hill St. and arrived to find the mansion ablaze, with flames tearing through the second and third floors, prompting a switch to defensive attack to combat the rampaging fire. The Grafton Fire Department, which assisted Northbridge, shared images showing numerous ladder trucks encircling the building, actively battling flames and smoke that were visible from the roof. "These buildings are old and very hard to put out. We went to a defensive attack quickly," Northbridge Fire Chief David White said, as reported by NBC10 Boston.
The vast response included multiple area communities and quickly escalated into a five-alarm fire. By 6 a.m., the blaze was under control, yet firefighters continued tirelessly to extinguish remaining hot spots throughout the morning. Local authorities, in conjunction with the State Fire Marshal’s Office, are thoroughly investigating the incident to ascertain the cause. The historic building, whose construction dates back to 1890, was home to seven residents who all managed safely to escape without injury, according to WHDH News.
Oakhurst Manor, also known as the Whitin Lasell Estate, previously belonged to the Catholic Archdiocese and served as a retreat before transforming into an event center named Estate of Mind. The property was renowned for supporting artists and hosting events. In light of the disaster, Victoria Dobbs, the owner of Estate of Mind, confirmed, "Due to a fire early this morning at Oakhurst Manor, all events on Friday March 1 are cancelled," in a statement posted on their website. She further assured "that all residents & guests who were inside the manor exited safely and there are no known injuries at the time of posting." She promised to reach out to clients with upcoming bookings to provide information on next steps, as reported by NBC Boston.
Despite the severity of the fire, officials like Chief White remain hopeful the mansion won't be a total loss. "It's a historic building, as you can tell," White told NBC10 Boston. "It's one of the old mansions in town. It does have a little value there." The full scale of the damage is still to be assessed as the community reckons with the near destruction of a significant piece of its heritage. Residents, meanwhile, have found temporary refuge in another structure on the property.
