Wakefield residents awoke to the turmoil of a two-alarm fire this morning, a blaze which officials say has led to a fatality. Wakefield Fire Chief Michael J. Sullivan, Police Chief Steven A. Skory, alongside State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine and Middlesex County District Attorney Marian T. Ryan, confirmed the death in a joint statement released by the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services. "Our hearts go out to the family that lost a loved one today," Sullivan expressed. "This is a very sad day for them and the community."
Investigators, having sifted through the charred remains of the third-floor origin of the fire at 318 Water Street, rule out intentional foul play, as reported by the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services. The lethal combination in the very area of origin, smoking materials alongside home oxygen equipment, is suggested to have contributed to the tragedy. In an environment ripe for combustion, such materials present an unsaid warning.
As the event unfolded just before 9 AM, the Wakefield Fire Department responded to multiple 9-1-1 calls that reported an explosion. Officials say witnesses and first responders both reported the searing crackle of heavy fire engulfing the building's third floor and heard the shrill echo of life-saving smoke alarms. A mere 30 minutes later, the blaze was in hand, beaten back by the concerted efforts of the Wakefield firefighters and mutual aid from neighboring towns.
While two were pulled from the fire's grip alive, tragically, the hospital could only bear witness to a loss; one of the two rescued succumbed to their injuries at Massachusetts General Hospital, said officials. According to witness statements gathered, the quick action of first responders provided for other residents to make a narrow escape. Assisting the displaced, the Red Cross and Wakefield's Office of Emergency Management sprang into action alongside the firefighting efforts.
Reminding the public of the dangers an oxygen-rich environment can pose, fire officials emphasize education on home oxygen fire safety, which can be found on the Department of Fire Services' website. This incident paints a somber picture; the importance of safe practices when oxygen therapy devices are in the home cannot be overstated.
