After electrical-room fire, Plumley Village residents waiting for go-ahead to return to apartments

WORCESTER — Workers were rushing to repair the fire-damaged electrical system at the Plumley Village high-rise as displaced residents waited for the OK to return home.

More than 300 residents evacuated their apartments early Thanksgiving morning when an electrical-room fire cut power to the 16-story apartment building. The fire, at 16 Laurel St., was reported about 3:45 a.m. Thursday.

There were no reported injuries.

Residents scrambled to find housing in the early-morning hours. Many stayed with family or friends, while others were put up in hotels, including the Holiday Inn Express, not far from the apartment building.

The hotel arrangements were made by Community Builders, the company that manages the Plumley Village housing complex.

As of Friday afternoon, electrical workers had yet to make the repairs needed to restore power to the apartments.

"The time frame for those repairs to be completed is still unknown but the City of Worcester’s Department of Inspectional Services is working with building management and the contractors to expedite a temporary repair that would allow residents back into the building as soon as it safe to do so," the city said in a statement at noon Friday.

Some power has been restored. The building's elevators and heating system are in operation, the city said.

The fire was contained to a second-floor electrical room, according to Acting Deputy Fire Chief Adam J. Roche. No apartments or common areas were damanged.

A worker at the apartment complex said Friday morning that the delay in repairs is tied to difficulty in getting a particular part.