Ten businesses destroyed in Framingham shopping plaza fire March 11, 2017

Jeff Malachowski 508-490-7466 Metrowest Daily News

FRAMINGHAM - Tears welled in Lisa Cabral's eyes as she peered at the charred and twisted remains of Merle Norman Cosmetics where she has worked for the past two decades.
"I saw it up in flames," said Cabral, the store's owner the past ten years. "I was shocked. I'm heartbroken."
The cosmetics store was one of ten businesses at the Old Path Village shopping plaza on Concord Street that was destroyed in a fast-moving, three-alarm fire early Saturday morning, said Assistant Fire Chief Mike Dutcher.
The blaze ignited shortly after 2 a.m. in the attic of one of the businesses in the middle of the strip mall. When firefighters arrived they smelled smoke, but could not see flames. Firefighters popped ceiling tiles inside one of the businesses and found heavy fire in the attic, said Dutcher.
The fire quickly spread across the plaza, in part, due to high winds. Fire crews were forced to evacuate and fight the blaze from outside, said Dutcher.
"The weather conditions made me go to a third alarm," he said. "The weather and wind made it difficult."
It took firefighters about four hours to extinguish the blaze. Crews were on the scene throughout the morning and early afternoon putting out hot spots, said Dutcher.
Nobody was inside when the fire started. No injuries were reported, but the building is a total loss. The facility had sprinklers, but not in the attic. Attics were not required to have sprinklers when the building was constructed in the early 1980s, said Dutcher.
"It was one of the most significant fires I've been to," said Dutcher, a 20-year fire department veteran. "It's a pretty significant loss."
A cause has not been determined. The state fire marshal's office and Framingham fire officials were investigating throughout the day Saturday.
Businesses in the plaza include Bella Sisters Salon and Spa, Styles n' Smiles, J&M Diner, Chiropratic Solutions and Trinity Optical.
"Everybody is devastated," said building owner Michael Brossi.
Cabral, who heard about the fire shortly after 3 a.m. and rushed to the scene, characterized the businesses at the strip mall as a small family.
"They're heartbroken," she said. "Everyone is upset and crying. My heart breaks for them."
Tammy Miranda, whose mother previously owned a store at the plaza, called the fire a tragedy.
"It was a place where I grew up from early childhood," she said staring at the rubble. "This is so sad."
Brossi is hoping to rebuild.
"I'm hoping that we'll rebuild because I love this location," said Cabral.
A GoFundMe page has been created for the owners of J&M Diner. As of Saturday afternoon $250 has been raised. Donations can be made by visiting www.gofundme.com/help-jm-diner.

Ten businesses destroyed in Framingham shopping plaza fire	March 11, 2017
Jeff Malachowski 508-490-7466	Metrowest Daily News
FRAMINGHAM - Tears welled in Lisa Cabral's eyes as she peered at the charred and twisted remains of Merle Norman Cosmetics where she has worked for the past two decades. "I saw it up in flames," said Cabral, the store's owner the past ten years. "I was shocked. I'm heartbroken." The cosmetics store was one of ten businesses at the Old Path Village shopping plaza on Concord Street that was destroyed in a fast-moving, three-alarm fire early Saturday morning, said Assistant Fire Chief Mike Dutcher. The blaze ignited shortly after 2 a.m. in the attic of one of the businesses in the middle of the strip mall. When firefighters arrived they smelled smoke, but could not see flames. Firefighters popped ceiling tiles inside one of the businesses and found heavy fire in the attic, said Dutcher. The fire quickly spread across the plaza, in part, due to high winds. Fire crews were forced to evacuate and fight the blaze from outside, said Dutcher. "The weather conditions made me go to a third alarm," he said. "The weather and wind made it difficult." It took firefighters about four hours to extinguish the blaze. Crews were on the scene throughout the morning and early afternoon putting out hot spots, said Dutcher. Nobody was inside when the fire started. No injuries were reported, but the building is a total loss. The facility had sprinklers, but not in the attic. Attics were not required to have sprinklers when the building was constructed in the early 1980s, said Dutcher. "It was one of the most significant fires I've been to," said Dutcher, a 20-year fire department veteran. "It's a pretty significant loss." A cause has not been determined. The state fire marshal's office and Framingham fire officials were investigating throughout the day Saturday. Businesses in the plaza include Bella Sisters Salon and Spa, Styles n' Smiles, J&M Diner, Chiropratic Solutions and Trinity Optical. "Everybody is devastated," said building owner Michael Brossi. Cabral, who heard about the fire shortly after 3 a.m. and rushed to the scene, characterized the businesses at the strip mall as a small family. "They're heartbroken," she said. "Everyone is upset and crying. My heart breaks for them." Tammy Miranda, whose mother previously owned a store at the plaza, called the fire a tragedy. "It was a place where I grew up from early childhood," she said staring at the rubble. "This is so sad." Brossi is hoping to rebuild. "I'm hoping that we'll rebuild because I love this location," said Cabral. A GoFundMe page has been created for the owners of J&M Diner. As of Saturday afternoon $250 has been raised. Donations can be made by visiting www.gofundme.com/help-jm-diner.

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