An elderly man has died following a blaze that engulfed his Newton home. The Newton Fire Department battled the inferno on Allen Ave on the morning of Dec. 13, only for the victim to succumb to his serious injuries weeks later, as confirmed by officials. Newton Fire Chief Gregory J. Gentile paid respects to the victim's family, stating, “This is a terrible loss for them and for the community, especially during the holiday season. I want to remind all our residents just how important it is to have working smoke alarms on every level of your home, especially for older adults.” in a statement obtained by mass.gov.
The Fire Department successfully rescued the man, who had limited mobility, his injuries proved to be fatal after a grueling battle for his life at Massachusetts General Hospital. One of the firefighters sustained injuries in the process and has since been released, now in recovery.
As investigators sifted through the charred remnants of the home, they unearthed the cause — a malfunctioning lamp, which presented itself as a deadly hazard in the living room. State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine warned the community "If you have an appliance that’s arcing, sparking, or smoking, unplug it right away if you can do so safely, and call 9-1-1 for help. Having your home’s electrical system inspected by a licensed professional every 10 years can identify problems before they become emergencies.” This sage advice comes on the heels of the joint investigation by multiple agencies, including the Newton Fire and Police Departments, State Police, and ATF, which determined the fire accidental.
Officials are now reiterating the importance of electrical safety and urging residents to never ignore failing electrical equipment. They strongly advise periodic professional inspections of home electrical systems to preemptively catch and address faults.
