House fire in Plymouth kills one
Working smoke alarms in the home prevented causing more havoc
A fire at a Plymouth home killed one resident and injured two others early Friday, according to authorities who say the blaze could have caused much more harm if it weren’t for working smoke alarms.
Plymouth Fire Department responded to 41 Post N’ Rail Avenue shortly before 5:30 a.m, after receiving a Life Alert notification that occupants were choking on smoke inside the home.
After arriving at the ranch-style home, firefighters learned two of the five people inside at the time were unaccounted for.
They immediately entered the home, rescuing one adult who was taken to an area hospital and is in critical condition. A second adult, whose identity hasn’t been shared, suffered fatal injuries, according to a release from the state Department of Fire Services.
One of the adults who escaped suffered what authorities described as “less serious injuries.” Two Plymouth firefighters also suffered minor injuries at the scene, the release stated.
“On behalf of the Plymouth Fire Department, I want to express our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones affected by this morning’s tragedy,” Plymouth Fire Chief Neil J. Foley said in the Friday afternoon statement. “Our thoughts are with them right now. To the rest of our community, I want to emphasize that working smoke alarms appear to have prevented an even greater loss of life.”
The fire does not appear suspicious, authorities said. The Plymouth fire and police departments, State Police assigned to the offices of the State Fire Marshal and the Plymouth District Attorney’s Office are conducting a joint investigation to determine the exact origin and cause.
The displaced residents are receiving assistance from the Red Cross.
Due to the home being located in a rural environment that lacks fire hydrants, firefighters had to bring in water via a line they established at a nearby pond and from one of the town’s fire stations, according to updates from the scene posted on Twitter by Plymouth Fire Buff.
Firefighters battled the blaze for several hours before it was fully brought under control.
In the release from the state Department of Fire Services, State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey shared fire safety advice: “Please take a minute today to be sure you have working smoke alarms on every level of your home. Test them every month to be sure they’re working properly.”