UPDATED: Fire at MacDonald Hotel Closes Main Street

Update: Passing firefighters jumped to action today when they spotted a fire in the basement of the MacDonald Hotel around 10:30 a.m.

"They were headed somewhere else and they saw some fire," said Fire Chief James Fortin of the two alarm fire which shut down Main Street and was extinguished shortly after 11 a.m.

Everyone from the building was evacuated before any call was made reporting the fire at the rooming house, located at 276 Main St. A local business owner was among those evacuated and spoke to Patch at the scene of the fire.

"Everybody got out," said Chief Fortin who explained they were in the building of 240 Main Street to stay warm. The chief could not confirm earlier reports that a person had been taken to the hospital by ambulance.

The fire originated in the basement of the hotel and spread up into the first floor of the building, affecting businesses along the first floor, said Chief Fortin.

"There was smoke throughout (the building)," he said explaining that it did not cause extensive damage to the upper floors.

A second alarm was struck, bringing firefighters from Hudson and Southborough to the scene while Sudbury and Northborough firefighters covered Marlborough's fire stations.

Firefighters were able to stop the fire on the first floor, said Chief Fortin. The extent of the damage is unknown at this time.

The investigation into the cause of the fire was taking place even before all the equipment had been cleared from Main Street.

"Our investigators are in there right now starting the investigation," said Chief Fortin.

Original Story: A portion of Main Street remained closed at 11:30 a.m. Friday after a fire broke out at the MacDonald Hotel.

The Fire Department contained the two-alarm fire, which was reported after 10:30 a.m. at the rooming house, located at 276 Main St. 

Officials at the scene said the fire started in the rear of the building on the first floor.

Return to Patch for updates.