Early morning fire destroys two Webster Lake dwellings

Posted: Friday, April 20, 6:46 a.m.

Location: 129 & 131 South Shore Road, Webster

Patriot staff text and photos.

Particulars: A massive fire destroyed two Webster lakeside homes and displace two families during the early morning hours of Thursday April 19th.

Details are sketchy at this time, but fire officials stated that it was just after 1 AM when the phones at the Webster Emergency Control office started lighting up like a Christmas tree. Many residents of Killdeer Island were awakened by a brilliant light coming from South Shore Road and realized that there was a house on fire. They immediately started inundating Webster’s 911 system with frantic calls about the fire.

The fire originated in a two story home located at 129 South Shore Road. The occupants of the house were out of town babysitting their grandchildren at the time of the fire. When police arrived on scene, they radioed dispatch that the house was “fully involved” and the fire was quickly spreading to the house next door. Thankfully, before any first responders arrived, some of the neighbors had already gone to the threatened home at 131 South Shore Rd. and rousted the occupants from their slumber, getting them out of their house before the fast moving flames could trap them inside.

As firefighters arrived on scene, it was obvious that the home at 129 South Shore Rd. was totally engulfed in flame and on the verge of collapse. The overwhelmed jakes turned their attention to the two dwelling on either side of the original fire building, one of which was already on fire. The other was severely threatened by radiant heat.

Webster Fire Chief Brian Hickey arrived on scene and immediately sized up the fire situation. He felt his firefighters were at a disadvantage and would need additional help. He called for mutual aid from the Dudley, Douglas, Oxford, and Southbridge fire departments to respond to the scene to assist his jakes in gaining control of the grave situation.

Firefighters from the Webster FD and the out of town fire companies fought a very difficult battle to gain control of the stubborn fire. Unfortunately, the original fire building collapsed into the basement and the house located at 131 South Shore Rd. was completely destroyed by the ensuing fire. It appears both buildings will have to be razed. The third house that was threatened by the fire, located at 127 South Shore Rd., was damaged by radiant heat, but was habitable.

The fire was brought under control in about 90 minutes, and there were no injuries to any residents. One firefighter was treated at the scene for a minor ankle injury; he did not require hospitalization. The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time and is being investigated by members of the Webster Fire and Police Departments with assistance from Troopers from the State Fire Marshals Office.

An engine and crew from the East Thompson Fire Department covered the empty Webster Fire Headquarters.