BRAINTREE, MASS. (WHDH) - Fire crews are investigating a house fire in Braintree late Friday night that left a man dead, officials said.
A passerby reported the fire on Hobart Avenue just after 4 a.m. and fire crews located an older man inside and pronounced him dead at the scene, officials said.
“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. They are assisted by the Department of Fire Services’ Code Compliance & Enforcement Unit. While the exact cause has not been determined, the potential factors are all accidental and the fire is not considered suspicious.
“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.”
Firefighters could be seen using a ladder truck to douse flames shooting out of the roof of the home on Hobart Avenue.
This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.
(Copyright (c) 2024 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)