Garcia said 21 apartments were completelydestroyed by the fire and eight others were"seriously damaged." American Red Cross nurses andcase workers had been at the site of the firesince 11:30 p.m. Friday night.
A crowd of about two hundred stunned on-lookerswatched Saturday in amazement at the carnage leftbehind by the fire, as heavy equipment includingbull-dozers and a wrecking ball worked to topplethe most heavily damaged building.
Central Square residents interviewed as theystood watching along Mass. Avenue said they hadnever witnessed such pervasive and devastatingfire destruction.
John Clifford, the owner of the Green St.Grille just around the corner from the location ofthe fire, said he was shocked by the flames andsmoke he witnessed Friday night. "It was a miraclethat they contained it, the smoke and flames wereshocking," he said.
Clifford and several other Central Squarebusiness owners are collecting donations of foodand clothing to give to the displaced residents.One area restaurant owner has already donated$1,000 and 15 beds, Clifford said.
Roger Cadman, a student and Central Squareresident, said his mother had called him in apanic to find out if his building was the onestruck by the blaze. After reassuring his motherthat his home was quite secure, Cadman headed outwith his friend Tom Marsh to see what had happenedthe previous night along Mass. Avenue.
"I've never seen anything quite this bad, and I[have] watched my own house burn down," Marshsaid.