A large fire that engulfed a home in Athol on Thursday resulted in a woman’s death, State Fire Marshal Jon Davine’s office announced.
Ryan Mancini
masslive.com
(TNS)
A large fire that engulfed a home in Athol on Thursday resulted in a woman’s death, State Fire Marshal Jon Davine’s office announced.
The woman’s name was not released pending identification and notifying her family, Davine’s office said in a statement. Davine said Athol Town Manager Shaun Suhoski told him that she was a “beloved member of the community and active in her church and neighborhood.”
Athol firefighters arrived at the area of 92 Fern St. after they received a report of a fire at around 9:45 a.m., Davine’s office said. They saw the two-story home fully engulfed in flames, with heavy smoke visible. They elevated it to a second, then a third alarm, requesting mutual aid from several nearby departments.
Around 40 firefighters fought the fire for about an hour, Davine’s office said. They came from the Orange, Philipston, Petersham, Barre, Oakham, Gardner, Westminster, Winchendon and Fitchburg fire departments. Firefighters from Templeton and Fitchburg provided station coverage.
“On behalf of the Athol Fire Department, I want to express our heartfelt condolences to the victim’s family,” Athol Fire Chief Joseph Guarnera said in the statement. “This is a very sad day for them and our community.”
“The origin and cause of this fire remain under investigation, but preliminary evidence suggests that it started in the kitchen,” Davine said in the statement. “I want to remind everyone to stay safe in the kitchen. Don’t leave food cooking unattended, and in the event of a fire on the stovetop use a lid of baking sheet to smother the flames. If you can’t put it out quickly, then get out, stay out, and call 911.”
Athol police and fire officials, along with Davine’s office, Massachusetts State Police and Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early’s office, are leading the investigation.
