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7-Alarm Fire in Southbridge That Displaced 12 Intentionally Set: State Officials 7-Alarm Fire in Southbridge That Displaced 12 Intentionally Set: State Officials
7-Alarm Fire in Southbridge That Displaced 12 Intentionally Set: State Officials A devastating seven-alarm fire that tore through two buildings on Union Street in Southbridge last month was intentionally set, state fire officials said. Twelve people were left homeless in the blaze, and investigators are now asking the public for help in finding who’s responsible. The fire broke out around 3:25 am at 5-7 Union St. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, and quickly spread to the neighboring building at 9-11 Union St. Firefighters arriving on the scene found heavy flames and immediately called for additional resources, escalating the response to seven alarms. Crews from over a dozen commun…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Man Charged With Fire That Destroyed Mass Country Club Man Charged With Fire That Destroyed Mass Country Club
Man Charged With Fire That Destroyed Mass Country Club A Massachusetts was arrested Thursday, March 28, and charged with setting a blaze last year that demolished a Dartmouth country club.  Shawn Medeiros, 31, of New Bedford, is charged with burning a building, the State Fire Marshal's Office said.  Medeiros is accused of setting the May 7, 2023, blaze at Hawthorne Country Club around 1:30 p.m. It took two hours to get the blaze under control.  Fire investigators knew right away that the blaze appeared to be intentionally set.  Authorities did not speculate on any potential motive for the arson.  The club was a …

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
2 Injured In Western Mass Blaze Likely Caused By Oxygen Tank 2 Injured In Western Mass Blaze Likely Caused By Oxygen Tank
2 Injured In Western Mass Blaze Likely Caused By Oxygen Tank Fire investigators believe a fire that injured two people on Monday, Feb. 19, in Hampden County began from a medical oxygen tank.  Firefighters responded to 68 State St. in Ludlow just before 5:30 p.m. to reports of a fire. They found two older adults, both injured, trapped inside, state firefighting officials said.  Paramedics rushed both of them to an area hospital for treatment, and one was later taken to a Boston hospital for additional care.  The fire remains under investigation, but officials believe the oxygen tanks found inside the home played a role in the intensity…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Woman, 65, Killed In Western Mass House Fire ID'd Woman, 65, Killed In Western Mass House Fire ID'd
Woman, 65, Killed In Western Mass House Fire ID'd State fire officials have identified the woman who was killed in a Franklin County fire as a 65-year-old Orange woman, authorities said.  Debra Marini died several hours after she was seriously burned last week in a blaze at 99 West River Street in Orange, the State Fire Marshal's Office said on Tuesday. The homeowner, Vicki Kennedy, was also seriously hurt in the fire, but authorities said she is expected to recover.  Related: Woman Dies From Injuries In Orange Fire, Second Woman Remains In Burn Ward The fire began just after 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 13, and tore thr…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Neighbor Helps Save Couple From Western Mass House Fire; Both Seriously Burned In Blaze Neighbor Helps Save Couple From Western Mass House Fire; Both Seriously Burned In Blaze
Neighbor Helps Save Couple From Western Mass House Fire; Both Seriously Burned In Blaze A couple in Hampden County were seriously injured in a house fire Monday morning, Dec. 18, but it could have been much worse if not for a neighbor who saw the smoke and rushed to help, authorities said.  The fire began just before 8 a.m. at 88 Stafford Holland Road in Wales. Firefighters arrived to find smoke pouring from the front of the home, the State Fire Marshal's Office said.  Authorities did not identify the couple.  They were able to escape the blaze, and a neighbor helped pull one of them to safety.  The couple were taken to UMass Medical Center with seri…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
NEW UPDATE: Woman Dies From Injuries In Western Mass Fire, Second Woman Remains In Burn Ward NEW UPDATE: Woman Dies From Injuries In Western Mass Fire, Second Woman Remains In Burn Ward
NEW Update: Woman Dies From Injuries In Western Mass Fire, Second Woman Remains In Burn Ward New Update: State officials announced Thursday afternoon, Dec. 14, that one of the women injured in an overnight fire has died. The second woman, who was taken to a Boston hospital with severe burns, remains hospitalized. She is expected to survive, officials said.  Related: Authorities Identify Woman Killed In Orange House Fire Two other women who were at the 99 West River Street home at the time of the fire were able to escape without serious injury. Several of their dogs died in the blaze.  The house is considered a total loss.  A GoFundMe created to help the…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Woman, 62, Killed In Fire ID'd; Investigators Say Central Mass Blaze Started In Kitchen Woman, 62, Killed In Fire ID'd; Investigators Say Central Mass Blaze Started In Kitchen
Woman, 62, Killed In Fire ID'd; Investigators Say Central Mass Blaze Started In Kitchen Fire investigators say the three-alarm fire that killed a 62-year-old woman in Worcester County on Thursday, Sept. 7, started on the kitchen stove, authorities said.  Jacqueline "Jackie" Doherty died in the 92 Fern Street blaze in Athol that began just before 10 a.m., the State Fire Marshal's Office said. A second person in the home was taken to an area hospital and is recovering from their wounds. Their name and the extent of their injuries were not released.  Dan Plourde, a friend of Jackie's, said she was a brilliant woman who worked at Schepens Eye Research Institute. She…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Woman Dies In Athol House Fire; Investigators Believe Blaze Began In Kitchen Woman Dies In Athol House Fire; Investigators Believe Blaze Began In Kitchen
Woman Dies In Athol House Fire; Investigators Believe Blaze Began In Kitchen A woman was killed in a three-alarm blaze in Worcester County Thursday afternoon, Sept. 7, authorities announced.  The fire was reported just before 9:45 a.m. at 92 Fern Street in Athol, the state Fire Marshal's Office said.  Related: Woman Killed In Athol Fire ID'd; Fire Investigators Determine Cause Of Blaze Authorities have not released the victim's name, but Athol Town Manager Shaun Suhoski said she was a beloved community member and active in her church and neighborhood. Firefighters believe the blaze began in the kitchen, but they are still investigating the fire's origi…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Man Out On Bail Tried To Burn Down Springfield Home with Someone Inside: Police Man Out On Bail Tried To Burn Down Springfield Home with Someone Inside: Police
Man Out On Bail Tried To Burn Down Springfield Home with Someone Inside: Police A man wearing a court-ordered ankle monitor from a previous arrest from in cuffs again Thursday, Aug. 24, after police in Springfield said he tried to burn down a home with someone inside.  Lavonta Williams, 45, of Springfield, was out on bail from an arrest in August 2022 on guns and drug charges and an outstanding warrant for driving while high in Palmer, Springfield police said.  Emergency dispatchers sent firefighters to a home on Collins Street just after 9 a.m. Thursday after they received calls about a structure fire. Fire crews were able to put out the blaze.  A K9 t…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
UPDATE: Dog, 2 People Die In Early Morning Western Mass Fire, Officials Say UPDATE: Dog, 2 People Die In Early Morning Western Mass Fire, Officials Say
Update: Dog, 2 People Die In Early Morning Western Mass Fire, Officials Say Two older adults and a dog were killed in an early morning fire in Western Massachusetts this week, fire officials said.  Springfield Fire responded to the fire at 126 East Street in Springfield around 2:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 30, the Department of Fire Services (DFS) reports. Upon arrival, firefighters found the two-stry, single-family home fully engulfed in flames.  SFD “On Scene “ 126 East St. Working fire all companies are operating at this time. pic.twitter.com/W89HTlvIJ9 — SPRINGFIELD FIRE (@SFD_HQ) March 30, 2023 Crews battled the blaze for about two hours before it was ext…

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by David Cifarelli
Police & Fire
Fatal Fire: Man Succumbs To Injuries In Western Mass Blaze Fatal Fire: Man Succumbs To Injuries In Western Mass Blaze
Fatal Fire: Man Succumbs To Injuries In Western Mass Blaze A man severely injured in a Saturday, March 4, fire in Hampden County has died of his injuries, the state Fire Marshal's Office announced on Monday.  The fire was reported around 6 a.m. at a detached shed at 901 Main St. in Agawam, officials said. Firefighters were quick to the scene and got the blaze under control soon after. Unfortunately, one man was critically injured, and another was less seriously hurt.  Authorities did not release their names. The man who was critically injured died Sunday.  Related: Two People Injured In Agawam Shed Fire A man injured in a Saturday …

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Employee Accused Of Intentionally Setting Fire At Western Mass Restaurant Employee Accused Of Intentionally Setting Fire At Western Mass Restaurant
Employee Accused Of Intentionally Setting Fire At Western Mass Restaurant An employee of a Western Massachusetts restaurant is accused of intentionally setting the building on fire over the weekend. Authorities in Berkshire County received a report of a fire at Olde Forge Restaurant, located at 125 North Main St. in Lanesborough, at about 10 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 28, according to the Lanesborough Police Department. The Cheshire, Dalton, Hancock, and Hinsdale fire departments responded to assist the Lanesborough Fire Department and found fire coming from the back of the building. The fire was contained within an hour, police reported. Authorities said a…

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by Nicole Valinote
Police & Fire
Three Buildings Destroyed After Fire Breaks Out At CT Shopping Plaza Three Buildings Destroyed After Fire Breaks Out At CT Shopping Plaza
Three Buildings Destroyed After Fire Breaks Out At CT Shopping Plaza A popular Connecticut shopping plaza has been at least three-quarters destroyed by a fast-moving fire. The fire, in Hartford County, began around 1:20 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 24 at 43 Main St. in Bristol. According to Bristol Fire Chief Dave Butkus, when firefighters arrived on the scene, crews were met with heavy smoke and flames coming inside the building. The firefighter's initial attack began inside the building, but they were pushed back by intense flames, the chief said.  The roaring fire.Bristol Fire Department The crews switched to an outside assault to protect nearby buildings a…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Two-Alarm Fire Breaks Out At CT Apartment Complex Two-Alarm Fire Breaks Out At CT Apartment Complex
Two-Alarm Fire Breaks Out At CT Apartment Complex A two-alarm fire caused significant damage to a commercial building that also houses apartments in northern Connecticut. The fire started in Litchfield County just after midnight on Thursday, Dec. 2 in Torrington, at 24. East Main St. First arriving units reported smoke from the area of the roof of a two-story commercial building with residential apartments on the second floor, said Battalion Chief David Casper Jr., of the Torrington Fire Department. Entry was made and crews confirmed a fire on the first floor of the building.  The building was undergoing renovations at the tim…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
One Dead After House Fire Breaks Out In Western Mass One Dead After House Fire Breaks Out In Western Mass
One Dead After House Fire Breaks Out In Western Mass One person was killed during an early house fire in Western Mass that also destroyed the home.  The fire started around 5:40 a.m., Monday, May 24, in Hampden County, on Maple Street in Bondsville, according to fire officials. The victim is believed to a be resident of the home, said the Hampden County DA's Office. The Palmer Fire Department, which battled the blaze along with the Bondsville Fire Department, said on Facebook that it worked as hard as possible to save the resident. "Condolences to the family who lost their loved one today at the structure fire in Bondsville," the depar…

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by Kathy Reakes