NORWOOD -- Six families were left homeless and one firefighter was sent to the hospital yesterday afternoon after a two-alarm fire ripped through a group of townhouses in Norwest Woods on Normandy Drive.
About 50 firefighters from five area communities including Westwood, Dedham, Foxboro, Walpole and Canton spent about two hours fighting the blaze.
No residents were hurt in the fire, but Norwood Fire Lt. Robert Henry was taken to Norwood Hospital for mild exhaustion, Fire Capt. George Geary said.
"I called in a working fire as soon as I showed up here," said Geary, who was first to arrive on the scene after the fire was called in at 12:11 p.m.
Geary said smoke and flames were shooting out of the roof and a second alarm was called at 12:20 p.m.
Geary said the cause of the fire is not known, but he believes it was accidental. A plumber's torch was found on the second floor near where the fire is believed to have started, he said.
The fire started in unit 601, a vacant apartment where contractors were working. One contractor discovered the fire and called 911, according to George McHugh, vice president of property management at Chestnut Hill Realty Corp., the company that manages the complex.
Geary said the fire got into a common attic area and that allowed it to spread to five adjoining units.
"Once it gets up in there, they're tough to get at," he said.
McHugh said there is no official estimate on the damages.
He did not know whether all the residents have fire insurance, but he estimated four of the six units were "total losses." McHugh said the company was making sure all the families had a place to stay.
Access to the complex by vehicles was completely cut off during the battle, and part of Nahatan Street was also shut down. Traffic was routed around the area via Crestwood Circle. Thick clouds of smoke blew across the entire complex, making it hard to see. Curious residents lined the road near the building, craning their necks.
Linda Murray, 50, has lived in four of the townhouses in the complex over the years.
"I've been here 10 years. I've never seen a fire," she said.
Sue Walsh, 42, lives in unit 501, and could see the fire from her window.
"I just saw smoke," she said. "I thought it was fog."
Paul Shin, 16, who lives in unit 606, at the edge of the fire, said he didn't know the building was on fire until emergency crews arrived.
"I heard all these noises outside, and I heard the alarm going off next door," he said.
