Susannah Sudborough
masslive.com
(TNS)
A house fire on Cape Cod that took the life of a man in his 60s was caused by smoldering cigarettes and other smoking paraphernalia, according to the Massachusetts Fire Marshal’s Office.
Neighbors reported the two-alarm fire at 326 Oakland Road in Hyannis shortly after 5:20 a.m. Wednesday morning, the fire marshal’s office said in a press release. Hyannis firefighters responded and found heavy flames coming from the one-story, single-family home.
Two adults escaped the burning house and told first responders that a man was still inside, the fire marshal’s office said. They were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The victim was later found dead inside the home, the state fire marshal’s office said. The Chief Medical Examiner’s Office will determine his cause of death.
It took firefighters from six different Cape Cod fire departments to put out the fire, the state fire marshal’s office said. While the bulk of the fire was extinguished within 15 minutes, it took firefighters several hours to douse all the hot spots.
The house was deemed a total loss, the state fire marshal’s office said. The American Red Cross of Massachusetts is helping the surviving residents of the home find shelter.
Local and state fire investigators determined that the fire began in the victim’s bedroom where they found “numerous” cigarettes and evidence of other smoking paraphernalia, the fire marshal’s office said. The fire is not thought to be suspicious.
Smoking paraphernalia have been potential factors in eight fatal fires in Massachusetts this year alone, State Fire Marshal Jon Davine said in the release. Additionally, in just the last two days, three fires in the state — in addition to the Hyannis fatal fire — are thought to have been caused by smoldering smoking paraphernalia.
“If you still smoke or have guests who do, please use a heavy ashtray with water or sand and remember to put it out, all the way, every time,” Davine said.
Additionally, authorities found the only working smoke alarm in the house in the basement, the state fire marshal’s office said. Another alarm had been removed from the home some time ago because the alarm signaling it needed replacing was going off.
“Please, for your safety and the safety of people you care for, never disable a smoke alarm. Smoke and [carbon monoxide] alarms are your first line of defense in an emergency at home,” Hyannis Fire Chief Peter Burke said in the release. “ … Don’t wait for tragedy to strike — if you need help installing, testing or replacing an alarm, please call us.”
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