47-year-old man charged with Attempted Murder and Arson after Taunton home destroyed by blaze

TAUNTON — Fire Chief Steven Lavigne and Police Chief Edward Walsh report that Taunton Fire crews extinguished an early morning arson fire on Grant Street Tuesday.

A Taunton Police arson investigator remains on the scene. A building occupant is under arrest.

At 7:11 a.m., a 911 caller reported a fire at 6 Grant St. The Taunton Fire Department deployed Engines 1, 4 and 5, Ladder 2 and Car 2.

Taunton Police Officers Brady Nichols and Jose Colon arrived first at about 7:14 a.m. and reported heavy smoke coming from the home’s second story. Taunton Fire crews arrived one minute later.

Arriving firefighters assisted Officers Nichols and Colon as they entered the burning home and helped three occupants exit safely.

Fire crews launched an immediate attack on the flames, bringing the fire under control in about 35 minutes.

No injuries, of residents or fire personnel, have been reported.

A 47-year-old male occupant, who was not identified in a police and fire release, has been arrested and will be charged with Attempted Murder and Arson as a result of the preliminary Taunton Police investigation.

Court records show that 47-year-old Jeffrey Powers was arraigned this afternoon on a charge of Arson of a Dwelling. He pled not guilty and was held without bail pending a mental health hearing scheduled for Wednesday.

An ongoing investigation into the cause of the fire is underway by Taunton Police Arson Investigator Detective Derek Feeney.