A midmorning fire ripped through a house on Old Orchard Lane in Boxborough on Tuesday, leaving the home a total loss while the residents escaped with only minor injuries. Thick black smoke and heavy flames rolled across the neighborhood as fire crews moved quickly to bring the blaze under control. Officials say the cause is still under investigation.
Firefighters were called to a reported structure fire at 49 Old Orchard Lane around 9:30 a.m., and incident commanders immediately struck a second alarm to bring in more crews and equipment, according to Boston 25 News. The outlet reported that companies encountered “heavy fire conditions” and that the blaze was “deep-seated within the structure,” which led to a third alarm so firefighters could rotate, rehab and keep attacking hot spots. Crews remained on scene for hours to knock down remaining flames and overhaul the building.
What Neighbors Saw And Firefighters Faced
Neighbors told WHDH they captured cellphone video showing massive flames and thick smoke pouring from the roofline. Longtime resident Gary Schwarting, who said he has lived at the home for 40 years, told the station he smelled smoke, opened the garage and saw “the whole side of the house was in flames” as he rushed his wife out of the building. His hair was singed and he was treated at the scene.
Boxborough Fire Chief John Kivlan told WHDH the lack of town hydrants forced firefighters to rely on tanker shuttle operations from neighboring departments to haul water to the scene. The third alarm, he said, also brought badly needed personnel for rotation and rehab as crews battled the stubborn fire.
Water Access And Long-Term Planning
The heavy dependence on tankers highlighted a long-running conversation in Boxborough about municipal water access and fire-station capacity. Town meetings and committees in 2024 have been examining cistern repairs and options for a public water supply, according to Boxborough News. Local officials have made cistern maintenance and reliable water access central topics in planning for any future fire station, and those decisions shape mutual-aid strategies across the more rural parts of the region. Improving local water resources, they say, would ease the logistical load on responding departments during major fires like Tuesday’s.
Investigation Ongoing
Investigators believe the fire started in the garage, and the cause remains under investigation, Boston 25 News reports. The family told WHDH they hope to rebuild, but the structure is being treated as a total loss and officials have not released any additional details. Firefighters, mutual-aid crews and other emergency personnel stayed on scene for several hours to watch for flare-ups and clear equipment.
