Malden cops rescue couple from blaze
Malden police officers rescued an elderly couple from a raging three-alarm house fire on Ashland Street before multiple engines could respond to the flames.
Police Chief Marc Gatcomb said two of his officers, Katelyn Murphy and Noelle Bowie-Pierce, first spotted the fire while they were on patrol.
“Sometime around 10 in the morning they were in a marked patrol cruiser and they reported a large amount of smoke at a residence on a side street,” Gatcomb said. “They were on Main Street and they followed it to a home that was heavily engulfed in flames from the rear. They made their way into the residence from the front door and assisted two elderly people. Fortunately no one was injured.”
Gatcomb said Murphy is a five-year veteran of the police force and BowiePierce joined his department less than a year ago.
“I don’t think they (the man and woman) were aware that the house was on fire at the time,” Murphy said. “(The officers) showed a tremendous amount of professionalism and training ... they clearly averted a tragedy, which is a testament to the training officers receive in the academy and how they can respond and react accordingly.”
When firefighters arrived at the scene, all occupants were outside of the two-story home, Malden fire Deputy Chief Bill Sullivan said.
Members of the Malden Fire Department conducted a search and confirmed everyone was out, Sullivan said.
Firefighters from Melrose, Revere, Everett, Lynn, Somerville, Saugus and Medford assisted in extinguishing the fire. There were no injuries, Sullivan said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.