Early Tuesday morning, a fire broke out in a three-family home on Columbus Avenue in Easton, resulting in a serious blaze that required firefighting personnel to conduct a rescue operation for a wheelchair-bound resident. As reported by NBC Boston, the Easton Fire Department was called to the scene around 3:36 a.m. to tackle the fire that had started in a basement apartment, subsequently spreading rapidly to the upper floors of the building.
The response team acted swiftly to safely evacuate the disabled resident who was trapped on the first floor, unable to evacuate on their own. The rest of the inhabitants had already made it out by the time firefighters arrived. As per Chief Justin Alexander, firefighters were able "to bring the fire under control" within about an hour, a detail he shared in a statement obtained by ABC6. and efforts on-site continued until approximately 7:30 a.m.
The blaze left a tragic mark beyond the damage to property, with official reports confirming the deaths of a cat and a dog. Another dog injured in the incident is currently receiving treatment at a local animal hospital. The human toll included twelve people who were displaced by the fire, now relying on the support of family members for accommodation.
While the cause of the fire remains under active investigation by the Easton Fire Department and the Massachusetts State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit, authorities at this time believe the origin to be accidental. Chief Alexander noted that the fire "appears to be accidental in nature," alluding to the possibility that this was not an instance of foul play, but rather an unfortunate calamity stemming from circumstance.
