3-Alarm Fire In Worcester Devastates Apartment Building

WORCESTER, MA — Two people were critically injured early Tuesday morning in a three-alarm fire in the Washington Heights apartment complex off of Mill Street, a 400-unit affordable housing complex.

The fire was reported around 2:30 a.m. at 52 Outlook Drive, a three-story building inside the complex. Firefighters were able to rescue two people from the burning building, although they were reportedly seriously injured. Many more people were displaced by the fire, and were transported to the Worcester Senior Center temporarily.

Firefighters were still on the scene as of daybreak Tuesday, and Worcester police warned residents to stay away from the area due to the large response. The apartment complex is directly behind the Mill Swan Head Start building along Mill Street.

"Motorists are advised to avoid the area of Outlook Drive. The Worcester Fire Department is currently fighting a large structure fire there that could impact traffic," Worcester police said.

This is the second serious fire to hit Washington Heights in recent years. Thirty-three people were displaced after a February 2020 fire at 63 Outlook Drive, according to What's Happening Worcester.