WEBSTER, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com / AP) -- Four firefighters were injured battling a multi-alarm fire at a mill on North Main Street on Thursday afternoon.
The fire at the Anglo Fabrics Mill complex broke out at around 1:30 p.m. and had hit seven alarms. Multiple neighboring cities and towns responded to help, and the surrounding area was evacuated. It was contained, but still smoldering, at around 8 p.m.
State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan says the fire began in one building Thursday and spread to a second structure. Smoke from the seven-alarm fire could be seen from miles away, and even made an impression on FOX25's weather radar.
Firefighters drew water from the nearby French River and sprayed water on nearby homes to help stop the fire from spreading.
Local officials say the mill building has been vacant for several years. Coan says officials suspect arson, but the cause is still being determined.
Fire officials also expressed concern about the chemicals in the heavy smoke that covered neighborhoods surrounding the fire, noting the building where the fire started had been undergoing asbestos abatement.
"You don't want to be breathing this smoke for any long period of time. The smoke is dangerous, there are toxic chemicals in the smoke," said Webster Fire Chief Brian Hickey.
Embers from the blaze started several minor fires nearby.
"They were falling down from the sky. It was raining embers, raining on dogs, people and stuff, falling on houses," said resident Will Hubert.
Mobile app users, click here to view photos from the scene.
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