Firefighters Injured Battling 7-Alarm Fire At Webster Mill Complex

WEBSTER (CBS) -- Firefighters from several communities battled a seven-alarm fire at a mill complex in Webster on Thursday.

Webster fire officials said they responded to the Anglo Mill, a vacant fabric mill, on North Main Street at about 1 p.m.

State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan said the mill complex is partially occupied and the fire involved three buildings.

"The problem is there's so much stuff pancaked on each other, it's hard for us to get in there and put the fire out," Webster Fire Chief Brian Hickey told WBZ-TV.

Arson is  suspected as the cause only because the main building was vacant, Coan said.

Fire officials said four firefighters were hospitalized with minor injuries.

The fire reached seven alarms and thick black smoke could be seen for miles.

Acting Webster town administrator Pamela Regis said the fabric mill building had been vacant for several years.

Firefighters wet down nearby homes to prevent the blaze from spreading. There is no concern for nearby neighborhoods, officials said.

A large number of roofing supplies were inside the mill, causing noises that sounded like explosions. Firefighters, however, said this should not be alarming to residents.