Winchendon fire crews respond to three major blazes in one month

The Winchendon Fire Department handled three significant structure fires in the spring of 2026, including a mill fire, a residential blaze and a three-alarm fire, while also dealing with injuries to firefighters on June 10. The incidents put mutual aid, rescue work and the town’s emergency response capacity to the test.

Why it matters: - The spring fire run strained the Winchendon Fire Department’s people, equipment and mutual aid relationships. - The incidents showed how quickly local fire calls can escalate into communitywide emergencies that affect residents, pets, property and firefighter safety. - The department’s response mattered because crews were working to protect lives and help displaced residents return home.

What happened: - Winchendon firefighters responded to three significant structure fires in a little more than a month in spring 2026. - In March, crews fought a major fire at the abandoned mill complex on Lincoln Avenue Extension. - On April 3, firefighters responded to a residential fire at 10 Mill Glen Road. - On April 22, the department battled a three-alarm fire on Brown Street. - On June 10, crews responded to another structure fire, and three firefighters were injured. - One injured firefighter was taken to Heywood Hospital and later transferred to St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester. - Fire Chief Tom Smith said that firefighter was protecting the community while his spouse was in Boston with their child at Boston Children’s Hospital. - Smith said, “It is these acts that make me proud to be their Chief.”

The details: - The Lincoln Avenue Extension fire required extensive resources, mutual aid support and hours of firefighting. - Crews worked to evacuate residents and protect nearby homes during that incident. - The department’s goal in the March fire was to allow displaced residents to safely return. - At 10 Mill Glen Road, firefighters launched an aggressive attack, coordinated water supply operations and worked with mutual aid partners to contain the fire. - The Brown Street fire involved intense fire conditions. - During that fire, firefighters rescued multiple family pets from the building and reunited them with their owners. - The department’s spring responses involved career, per diem and call firefighters. - Members often leave families, jobs and daily responsibilities to answer emergencies at all hours.

Between the lines: - The run of fires highlights the pressure small departments face when multiple major incidents hit in a short period. - The repeated reliance on mutual aid shows how regional cooperation can determine how well a town handles large fires. - Smith framed the department’s performance as a matter of professionalism, compassion and determination rather than just emergency response.

What’s next: - The department will continue responding to emergencies across Winchendon as part of its normal public-safety mission. - Firefighters will likely keep relying on mutual aid and mixed staffing to manage major incidents. - Smith said the department’s members will keep stepping forward to help neighbors in need.

The bottom line: - Winchendon’s fire crews were tested by a difficult spring, and the department responded with repeated large-scale operations, rescues and mutual aid coordination.