ACUSHNET – A fire in Acushnet, Massachusetts, early Christmas morning killed a man and a woman in their 80s and injured a firefighter, authorities said.
Photos taken by a neighbor showed the two-and-a-half-story home on Garfield Street engulfed in flames. Firefighters and police responded to the scene after multiple calls to 911 were made just before 2 a.m. Wednesday.
Courtesy photo
The names of the two people killed have not been released, but a neighbor told WBZ-TV they were husband and wife. The firefighter who was taken to a hospital is expected to recover, officials said.
“On behalf of the Acushnet Fire Department, I would like to extend our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the victims,” Acushnet Fire Chief Thomas Farland said in a statement. “This is a heartbreaking day for them and our community.”
Neighbor helped a resident escape
A neighbor who saw the fire pounding on the door of the burning home helped a resident escape safely.
Responding firefighters were initially told that three people were missing, but another resident of the multi-family home was determined to leave the country at the time.
Firefighters heard no smoke detectors at the Acushnet fire
It took the fire brigade an hour to get the fire under control after the house had caused extensive damage. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
According to State Fire Marshal Jon Davine, witnesses and first responders heard nothing smoke detectors sounds during the fire.
‘Please, if you do one thing today, talk to the people you care about and make sure they are working smoke detectors on every level of their homes,” Davine said in a statement.
