2-alarm blaze displaces 12 people; Firefighter injured by flying debris.

Byline: Brian Lee 

MARLBORO - A two-alarm fire at 13 Lincoln Court Friday night injured one firefighter and displaced 12 people.

Fire Lt. Patrick Fortin said yesterday the fire's cause was being investigated by the state fire marshal. Local fire authorities would be back in touch with state officials Tuesday.

The injured firefighter was struck by a piece of debris. The non-life-threatening injury was being evaluated yesterday at Marlboro Hospital, Lt. Fortin said.

The first firefighters to arrive found heavy fire on the upper floor and attic of the 2-1/2 story, two-family, wood-frame home and were concerned about fire spreading to houses alongside it. Lincoln Court is a small, dead-end street in an older neighborhood, with houses close together, according to the Fire Department.

Firefighters were hampered by limited access, low water pressure and rain. At one point, all crews were ordered out of the building before the roof collapsed.

Once the fire was under control, crews went back into areas unaffected by the roof collapse to search for fire hidden in walls and other spaces.

The American Red Cross of Central Massachusetts provided food, clothing and shelter to four adults and eight children from two households, according to Suzanne M. Billings, coordinator of disaster preparedness and response.

Lt. Fortin said a preliminary estimate of the damage was about $200,000, but because of the age of home it was "probably a total loss."

The fire was reported at 9:51 p.m.