A deadly blaze claimed the life of a 69-year-old man in Carver, Massachusetts, on Wednesday night, with another man sustaining injuries. James Collins perished in the fire that erupted just before 11 p.m. on Tremont Street, officials reported. The quick-action of the Carver Fire Department had them arriving on the scene in less than five minutes, yet they found Collins unconscious on the first floor of the two-story home. Despite their efforts, he died at the scene.
According to WCVB, first responders faced down heavy fire upon arrival after a 911 call indicated a resident had fled the residence, alerting authorities that someone was still inside. Collins' nephew, Cabe, was able to escape the inferno but was subsequently hospitalized for burns to his hands. Fire Chief Craig Weston lamented that while firefighters managed to emerge unscathed, the home was a "total loss."
Following the incident, Cabe is expected to recover from his injuries, as stated by the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office. The fire's cause is currently under investigation with the State Fire Marshal's office involved in determining how the tragedy unfolded. Meanwhile, foul play is not being suspected in the unfortunate event.
With officials still piecing together the sequence that led to the fire, the efforts of Carver's fire and medical teams have been underscored by their rapid response. "We did not have any injuries to any firefighters. However, the structure was a total loss," Fire Chief Craig Weston expressed to NBC Boston. "Again, we had a quick response [and] a large number of firefighters. Just sad for everyone," he continued, reflecting on the night's harrowing circumstances.
