An early morning blaze yesterday has left five people without a home in Randolph, Massachusetts. The Randolph Fire Department was called to a residence at 21 Marconi Drive around 3 a.m. to address the emergency. According to WCVB, upon arrival, crews were met with smoke pouring from the front door, and flames were soon discovered emanating from a basement window at the back of the house.
The firefighters were reported to have acted quickly to locate and to extinguish the fire, which was brought under control in roughly 20 minutes. The fire is believed to have started in the vicinity of the home's heating equipment. "Firefighters said they determined the fire originated near the home’s heating equipment," WCVB stated. Damage was reported to be extensive in the basement area, with additional smoke damage affecting the first floor of the dwelling.
The house was deemed uninhabitable as a result of the damage, specifically to the heating system, leaving the residents to seek temporary accommodation with family nearby. No injuries were reported among the residents or the fire crew. Mutual aid and assistance were provided at the scene from neighboring fire departments in Holbrook and Milton, while Braintree and Avon fire departments covered Randolph's stations, according to NBC Boston.
A preliminary investigation suggested that a malfunction in the heating system might to be the cause of the fire. However, an official cause remains under investigation by the Randolph Fire Department, with support from the state fire marshal's office. In light of the incident, the Randolph Fire Department reminds residents to have their heating systems regularly inspected, a safety message that emerges in the wake of the fire.
