Fire in Douglas Mill Prompts 2nd Alarm
Douglas, Mass - Firefighters got a Halloween scare after a machine caught fire in a large Douglas mill Tuesday evening.
According to the Douglas Fire Department, at approximately 6:20 p.m. on Tuesday, October 31st, 2023, Firefighters were dispatched to 120 Gilboa St for reports of an air compressor explosion with fire in the SupremeX portion of the building. An employee attempted to extinguish the fire but was unsuccessful. A 2nd alarm was struck while units were en route due to “multiple reports of active fire” within the building.
Crews arrived to find heavy smoke showing from a rear loading dock. As crews began to investigate, an active fire was discovered within an air compressor unit inside the loading dock door. Crews were able to quickly knock the bulk of the fire down without any damage to the structure.
While the fire was largely knocked down before 2nd alarm companies arrived on the scene, companies were asked to continue in to help with the enormous task of ventilating the structure. Firefighters remained on the scene for approximately 2 hours working to remove all of the smoke from the 312,000 sqft structure. in addition to 2nd alarm companies, Sutton Fire Department’s Mobile Ventilation Unit (a large truck-mounted fan) was requested to the scene allowing large volumes of air to be forced into the structure allowing for positive pressure ventilation of large structures.
No injuries were reported as a result of the fire.
The converted 1904 mill houses an envelope company, a marijuana grow facility, and two commercial Garage spaces.
Agencies that responded, or were dispatched, included: the Douglas Fire Department, Northbridge Fire Department, Uxbridge Fire Department, Sutton Fire Department, Mendon Fire Department, Millville Fire Department, Webster Fire/Rescue, Dudley Fire Department, and the Pascoag Fire Department.