Firefighters from nine surrounding towns aided the Franklin Fire Department with the 5-alarm blaze, which was largely under control by 4:30. The fire, near the intersection of Main Street and Dean Avenue, closed most of the roads downtown and forced the fire department to evacuate nearby houses. Students at Dean College were put on lockdown.
Here is the Milford Daily News/WCVB-TV Channel 5 story: www.milforddailynews.com/breaking/x1274024194/Abandoned-Masonic-Temple-fire-evacuates-neighbors-in-Franklin