UPDATED: Fire Destroys Water Street House

An aggressive fire spread quickly through a two-story structure at 24 Water St. Wednesday, displacing two families.

The blaze led to the collapse of the house's roof and resulted in a total loss of the building, said Milford Fire Chief John Touhey. The two families inside, including four children, were able to get out safely. Three firefighters received minor injuries in extinguishing the fire.

The fire began on the first floor, in the bedroom of one of the children.

The fire was reported shortly before 6 a.m.

The people inside were sleeping. The first floor apartment had one adult and four children, ages 4 to 16. The second floor had one adult. A child on the first floor awoke to the smoke, and alerted the family, Touhey said.

Everyone was outside when firefighters arrived, and found heavy smoke in the structure. Initially, the firefighters attacked the fire from the inside, and at one point were on all floors, Touhey said.

He said he soon had to order them outside.

"The fire rapidly progressed to the second and third floors," Touhey said. "We pulled the crews out of the building."

The roof had collapsed by 7 a.m., when firefighters outside were training several hoses on the structure. The adjacent houses were damaged, when siding melted from thrown heat.

The wood-frame building with vinyl siding was built in 1910, according to Milford property records. It is owned by a Franklin-based limited liability company. The landlord responded to the site following the fire, Touhey said.

A canteen truck from the Providence Fire Department also was on scene, providing hot coffee for the firefighters.

Bellingham, Hopedale, Hopkinton and Franklin fire departments responded to assist.