Authorities have pinpointed smoking materials as the likely cause of a deadly blaze in Middleborough that took the life of a nonagenarian woman, as reported yesterday. In a joint statement, Middleborough officials indicated that Anne Tichelaar, 90, was the unfortunate victim of the fire that erupted early in the morning. The exact cause of her death remains under the scrutiny of the Chief Medical Examiner, according to Mass.gov.
"On behalf of the Middleborough Fire Department, I again want to express our heartfelt condolences to Ms. Tichelaar’s loved ones," said Chief Owen Thompson on Mass.gov, in a sentiment reflecting the community's loss. Chief Thompson also issued a reminder about the dangers of smoking indoors, a leading contributor to fatal fires in Massachusetts. He stressed the importance of extinguishing smoking materials properly in a sturdy ashtray filled with water or sand to prevent tragic accidents.
The fire departments responded to the incident located at 72 Everett Street around 2:50 am. The first responders were met with severe fire conditions in the two-story, multi-family home where Tichelaar was discovered on the first floor. Despite the immediate efforts, she was declared deceased at the scene. The investigation regarding the fire's origin is in progress, conducted by local and state authorities, including the State Police detectives and fire investigators of the State Fire Marshal’s office.
It was found that the residence lacked working smoke alarms, an oversight that underscores the perilous situation faced by Ms. Tichelaar. State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine emphasized the significance of these devices in an emergency, urging residents to ensure they have functional smoke alarms installed. "Please take a few minutes today to be sure you have them on every level of your home," Davine advised on Mass.gov, reminding the community to replace alarms older than 10 years and to test them monthly.
Support at the scene was also extended by fire departments from neighboring towns such as Raynham, Bridgewater, Lakeville, and Carver, who provided mutual aid, while the Wareham Fire Department offered station coverage. Critical support for firefighter health and safety was also noted, with the deployment of a Rehab unit by the Department of Fire Services during the operation.
