Fire and police departments rescue 81-Year-old Massachusetts woman from window of burning home

TYNGSBOROUGH — Fire Chief Wes Russell and Police Chief Richard D. Howe report that the Tyngsborough Fire and Police Departments rescued a woman from a burning home early Friday morning.

At approximately 12:10 a.m. Friday, members of the Tyngsborough Fire and Police Departments responded to a report of a fire at a single-family home at 16 Poitras Ave.

Upon arrival, firefighters observed heavy flames coming from the first floor of the home. First responders learned that four adults and five children lived in the home. Because the fire was close to the front door of the house, most of the family members needed to escape through a small window in the front of the house with the assistance of neighbors, according to officials.

Firefighters and officers were made aware that there was an 81-year-old woman still inside the home. Captain Chris Newton was assisted with crawling through a window into the home and found the woman lying on the floor.

Fire Lt. Tim Beaulieu, Firefighter Luis Diaz, Firefighter Ryan Carhart, Police Sgt. Bob Cote, Officer Jason Kushmerek, Officer Bethany Bonczar and Officer Chris Gustafson all assisted Captain Newton in helping the woman through the window to safety.

The victim was treated at the scene by Tyngsborough Fire Department EMTs and Lowell General Hospital paramedics and was transported by Tyngsborough ambulance to Lowell General Hospital. Officials stated that the woman was conscious throughout the rescue and was transported to the hospital and her injuries are believed to be non-life threatening.

Two firefighters suffered minor injuries during the rescue and one was transported to the hospital, but are expected to be ok.

Captain Newton struck a second alarm and members of the Dunstable, Nashua, Dracut and Chelmsford fire departments responded to assist in extinguishing the fire. The Westford Fire Department provided station coverage.

While battling the blaze, a portion of the second floor of the home collapsed into the first floor.

Officials stated that the fire was knocked down at approximately 2:10 a.m. and firefighters worked throughout the night to overhaul the scene. As of Friday morning, firefighters were still on scene monitoring for hot spots in the debris.

All nine residents were displaced from the home and were assisted by the American Red Cross.

A Salvation Army canteen truck also responded to the scene to provide water and refreshments to the first responders.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Tyngsborough Fire Department with the assistance of investigators from the State Fire Marshal’s office.

“I would like to commend our firefighters and the members of the police department and good Samaritans who helped rescue this woman and get the members of the family to safety,” Chief Russell said. “Every second counts in a fire and everyone did a fantastic job with the rescue and getting the fire under control.”

Chief Howe said, “This was great teamwork by our departments and excellent work by the dispatchers who relayed all of the important information in a timely manner. They definitely saved this woman’s life and it is a testament to the training and professionalism of both the police and fire departments who ran towards the danger in order to help those in need.”

The house sustained approximately $350,000 in damage is likely a total loss.