WEYMOUTH, MASS. (WHDH) - A crowd gathered at a bar in Weymouth on Sunday to attend a Celebration of Life for an elderly man who perished in a fast-moving fire in Braintree the day before.
A passerby reported the fire on Hobart Avenue just after 4 a.m. and fire crews located John “Sean” Sullivan, 85, inside and pronounced him dead at the scene.
Friends and loved ones gathered Sunday at The Cottage Bar to pay their respects.
Those who spoke with 7NEWS said Sullivan was a well-liked regular who was quick to do favors for others.
Fire officials say a preliminary investigation suggests the fire was not suspicious in nature.
“On behalf of the Braintree Fire Department, I want to express our heartfelt condolences to the victim’s family and loved ones,” said Chief O’Brien. “I also want to point out that we found no working smoke alarms at the scene. Please, take a moment today to be sure you have working smoke alarms on every level of your home. Don’t start the new year without them.”
The fire spread rapidly and caused major damage to the home but firefighters were able to contain it to the building of origin. A second alarm was struck shortly after arrival and firefighters battled the blaze for almost an hour before bringing it under control.
The fire is being investigated by the Braintree Fire Department, Braintree Police Department, and State Police assigned to the offices of the State Fire Marshal and Norfolk District Attorney.
“Smoke alarms save lives, but only if they’re up to date and working properly,” said State Fire Marshal Davine. “Test them every month, replace the batteries twice a year, and replace the alarm after 10 years. If you’re purchasing a new one, select a photoelectric alarm from a well-known national brand. It should have a sealed, long-life battery and a hush feature to reduce the chance that it will be disabled.”
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