Firefighters battle major fire after 2 officers run into burning Attleboro home to rescue residents

ATTLEBORO — Chief Scott T. Lachance reports that the Attleboro Fire Department responded to a serious house fire on Sunday morning.

Firefighters responded at 9:13 a.m. to 563 Mendon Road for a report of a house fire. Two Attleboro police officers were in the area and arrived first to find two residents inside. At great risk to themselves, the police officers went inside and pulled both residents out of the house, Attleboro firefighters arrived soon afterward, and both residents and both officers were treated by EMS.

An adult male resident and the two officers were treated for smoke inhalation. The second resident, a woman in her 40s, suffered severe burns. The woman was taken to Rhode Island Hospital with critical injuries. The other resident and police officers were transported to Sturdy Memorial Hospital. 

A full working fire response was requested, and firefighters were able to contain the fire to two rooms in the house before containing and extinguishing the blaze.

The fire was contained to one side of the duplex home. The residents of the other unit of the duplex were home at the time and were temporarily displaced, however their home was undamaged. They were allowed to return home later on Sunday morning.

The origin and cause of the fire are under investigation by the Attleboro Police and Fire Departments and State Police Detectives Assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Fire investigators estimated $100,000 in damage to the home.