A fatal fire in Lynn claimed the life of a man after he sustained serious injuries in his apartment on Lewis Street, according to the State Fire Marshal's office. The victim, a man in his 40s, was pronounced dead following efforts to save him after being pulled unresponsive from the blaze. State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine and local authorities are currently investigating the incident, which occurred last Saturday morning.
The Lynn Fire Department, under the direction of Chief Daniel Sullivan, responded to the emergency call at approximately 11:45 a.m. The LFD, with the assistance of the Swampscott Fire Department, swiftly controlled the fire in a single room of the multi-family residence. Unfortunately, the victim, whose name has not yet been released pending family notification, succumbed to his injuries the following afternoon at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston. "Our hearts go out to the victim’s family and loved ones," Chief Sullivan said in a statement obtained by the mass.gov news release.
Chief Sullivan also emphasized the importance of working smoke alarms in saving lives, noting that other residents in the building were alerted to the fire, possibly preventing further tragedy. They are now displaced due to smoke and water damage from the incident that shook the Lynn community. Despite the presence of functional smoke alarms in this case, officials highlighted that, in Massachusetts this year, most residential fire deaths were caused by either non-functional or absent smoke alarms.
"Working smoke alarms on every level of your home are among the most effective tools for preventing injury or worse in a fire," as stated by State Fire Marshal Davine. The investigation for the cause of the Saturday fire is ongoing, conducted by the Lynn Fire Department, Lynn Police Department, and State Police investigators assigned to both the State Fire Marshal’s office and the Essex County District Attorney’s office. As of now, 40 residential fire deaths have been recorded in the state this year, with working smoke alarms only present in 14 reported instances, as noted by the mass.gov. The details of the Lewis Street fire will be updated as the investigation progresses.
