Victim in fatal house fire ID’D

The victim of a fatal house fire in Burlington earlier this month has been identified by authorities.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, Burlington Fire Chief Michael Patterson, Chief of Police Michael Kent and State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey have confirmed Kevin O’brien, 61, as the victim in the Jan. 9 blaze.

Public safety personnel responded to a singlefamily home on Maryvale Road around 1 p.m. for a report of a house fire with people still inside.

Upon arrival, first responders found heavy smoke coming from the windows of the home and flames coming from the front window, according to a press release sent out by the DA’S office.

Officials said an elderly woman was rescued from the home by a Fedex driver and a neighbor was taken to a local hospital for treatment. A Burlington police officer was also sent to a local hospital for treatment, the press release said.

The press release said firefighters attempted to locate a second resident inside, O’brien, but were unable to locate him due to the conditions. A second alarm was struck early as firefighters continued working to knock down the flames. Firefighters later located O’brien deceased inside.

The cause of the fire was improper disposal of smoking materials, the press release said. The fire started in the first-floor living room where O’brien was found, Ostroskey said on Jan. 10. A melted plastic bucket containing Pall Mall cigarette remnants was found near the couch. There was additional evidence of smoking materials found in the living room.