Yesterday, tragedy struck in Sutton when a fire erupted at an emergency shelter site in a Red Roof Inn, housing displaced and migrant families. The fire led to several people being evaluated for smoke inhalation injuries, including members of the Massachusetts National Guard responding to the emergency, according to the Boston Herald.
Local officials have long been concerned about the safety of these families and the state's struggle to secure temporary housing for the homeless and migrants. The fire began "in the area of a stove in a hotel staff area." State Sen. Ryan Fattman and other town officials arrived at the hotel shortly after the incident to greet National Guard troops deployed as part of an ongoing effort to serve shelters without contracted service providers, Boston 25 News reported.
Several individuals were assessed for smoke inhalation injuries, including multiple National Guard personnel and a Sutton municipal employee. After being offered transport for medical care but declining, a hotel employee was sent to a nearby hospital for observation and is expected to recover. It was a relief to hear that no hotel guests were injured in the fire, which was restricted to the room of origin, Worcester Telegram explained.
Although local fire officials had previously voiced their concerns about their ability to respond to emergencies at the Sutton hotel, these concerns seemed to fall on deaf ears. Sutton Fire Department Chief Matthew Belsito had expressed trepidation in an email to state officials regarding the potential for a fire at the hotel, noting that it would likely require the assistance of every department in the fire district, and possibly even neighboring districts. Belsito questioned the state's decision to use hotels without essential safety features such as sprinklers and fully addressable alarm systems, especially considering the language barrier faced by many occupants, the Boston Herald mentioned.
A Healey spokesperson reported that 28 families had been placed at the hotel since August 27th. The Healey administration insists that the security and well-being of these families are of the utmost importance, stating that the Department of Public Health "rapid response team nurses" often visit shelter sites within the first days of placement to address any pressing health concerns. Despite the tragedy, these irregularities seem to be ongoing, as families continue to seek shelter at all hours, seven days a week, according to the Boston Herald.
In light of the recent fire, State Sen. Ryan Fattman made a powerful statement to the Boston Herald: "The Healy administration has placed people in jeopardy by putting people in this hotel and not doing due diligence on the public safety background." Boston Herald reported.
