Massachusetts State Police Trooper finds woman deceased after encampment fire

MILLBURY — An outdoor fire that claimed a woman’s life in Millbury Saturday night remains under investigation, said Millbury Fire Chief Steven M. Kosiba, Millbury Police Chief Brian S. Lewos, State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine, and Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.

At just after 8:15 p.m., a Massachusetts State Police trooper responded to a small brush fire in the area of the Blackstone River Bikeway near Route 146. Once on scene, the trooper located the victim in an encampment, where the fire is believed to have originated. He notified Millbury Fire Department, which fully extinguished the fire, and the Millbury Police Department.

The victim, an adult, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of her death and conduct a formal identification procedure.

The path remains open to the public.

The origin and cause of the fire are being investigated by Millbury Fire, Millbury Police, and State Police assigned to the offices of the State Fire Marshal and Worcester District Attorney.

While the exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined, fire officials noted that Massachusetts was under a Red Flag warning yesterday, meaning that any outdoor fire could spread quickly and become difficult to extinguish. Massachusetts continues to experience elevated fire risk today.