The Wellesley Fire Department is receiving grateful thanks from the Town of Natick.
Wellesley firefighters were among the first responders from more than 16 communities who helped fight a devastating fire that destroyed eight businesses near Natick Center.
The fire started just before 1: 30 a.m. on Monday, July 22 and quickly spread. According to Wellesley Fire Chief Rick DeLorie, all crews worked throughout the night and well into the day, swapping out personnel. The fire was finally contained and the building was taken down late in the day.
One Wellesley firefighter sustained an elbow injury. He was treated at a local hospital, released and is recovering.
Natick Board of Selectmen chair Micheal J. Hickey, Jr. shared his town's grateful appreciation for the assistance Wellesley provided throughout the very difficult day.
"We have many to thank for their help and support today, and I wanted to start by saying thank you to the Town of Wellesley," Hickey wrote in an email to the Wellesley Board of Selectmen and Chief DeLorie. "Please extend our sincere thanks to the men and women who spent so many hours here helping to get the situation under control."
Hickey also wished the injured firefighter a speedy recovery.
The pictures below were taken during the fire by the Wellesley Fire Department and show the intensity and severity of the 8-alarm blaze.
Pictured in the first photo on Tower 2 are Lt. Jim Claflin coming off the Tower, and Lt. Dana Gerrans and firefighter Alex DeLorie climbing up the tower.
In the second photo, on the ground are firefighters (top left to right) Lt. Jim Claflin and Ben Hampton, and (bottom left to right) Scott Smith and Jared O'Neil.
The third photo shows the burned interior of businesses on the corner of the block.
The Town of Wellesley will continue to offer any assistance it can to Natick as that community works to rebuild its retail and commercial district.