Berlin Firefighters Battle Garage Fire on South Street

Berlin, Mass. — October 30, 2026 — Firefighters from Berlin Fire & EMS and adjacent departments fought a fully engulfed detached garage blaze at 16 South Street on Friday morning. The flames spread to the wooded area behind the building, prompting multiple mutual-aid companies to respond. 

At around 10:43 AM, Nashoba Valley Regional Emergency Communications Center got many 911 calls about a building fire. A medical emergency elsewhere in town required Berlin’s on-duty crew and Engine 6C, leaving Fire Chief Michael McQuillen as the only immediately available responder. 

Off-duty and call members were requested to respond, while automatic mutual aid was dispatched from Hudson and Boylston. Due to multiple emergency calls and reports of heavy black smoke visible from Pleasant Street, Chief McQuillen requested a working fire assignment while responding.

Upon arrival, Chief McQuillen confirmed a fully involved detached garage measuring approximately 30 by 40 feet, with fire spreading into the wooded area behind it. Berlin Engine 1 arrived shortly afterward, and firefighters deployed multiple hose lines to begin suppression operations.

Berlin units responding included Engine 1, Tanker 1, Truck 6, Ambulance 1, Car 2 and Car 3.

Additional mutual-aid companies included Hudson Engine, Boylston Tanker, Bolton Engine and Tanker, Boxborough Tanker, Clinton Engine, Harvard Engine and Tanker, Marlborough Ladder and Northborough Engine. Coastal Ambulance/Hudson P1 also provided assistance, while Lancaster Engine was assigned to station coverage.

Firefighters brought the fire under control at approximately 10:56 a.m. Crews continued overhaul operations to extinguish remaining hot spots and make sure the area was safe.

South Street was closed to traffic during the response. Berlin Memorial School was notified of the incident and road closure. Once conditions allowed, the road was reopened to pedestrian traffic, and parking was made available at the Town Offices for parents who needed access to the school.

The District 8 Fire Investigation Unit responded, including a Berlin fire lieutenant assigned to the unit. Investigators from District 8, Berlin Fire and the Berlin Police Department are working to determine the cause and origin of the fire. A local contractor also brought an excavator to the scene to assist investigators and remove heavily damaged portions of the structure.

No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported.

Berlin Fire & EMS thanked the Berlin Police Department, Berlin Highway Department, Nashoba Valley Regional Emergency Communications Center and all mutual-aid departments and agencies for their assistance. Officials also thanked residents and the Berlin Memorial School community for their patience and cooperation during the response.

The incident demonstrated the importance of regional mutual aid, with neighboring departments providing additional resources while Berlin firefighters worked to contain the fire.