Middleborough, Lakeville, Bridgewater, Carver, Wareham fire departments battle blaze where occupant was courageously rescued

MIDDLEBOROUGH — Chief Owen Thompson reports that the Middleborough Fire Department rescued a victim from a burning house Monday night.

At approximately 9:15 p.m., Middleborough Fire responded to 6 Locust St., a two-story home in South Middleborough, for a report of a house fire.

The first engine company arrived on the scene approximately 6 minutes later to find a house with a fully involved first floor. Crews immediately attacked the blaze from the outside.

Neighbors quickly reported to firefighters that they believed the occupant was still in the home. Firefighters conducted an aggressive search and located the home’s sole occupant, a 67-year-old man, near a side entrance.

Firefighters rescued him, and he was then transported by a Coastal Medical Transportation ambulance to Rhode Island Hospital with life-threatening injuries that included burns and smoke inhalation.

The bulk of the fire was extinguished at about 12:30 a.m., but crews remained on the scene throughout the morning to extinguish hot spots.

One firefighter suffered a minor ear laceration and was treated at the scene.

Crews from the Bridgewater, Carver, Lakeville, and Wareham fire departments provided on-scene mutual aid. Carver firefighters provided station coverage.

Middleborough Fire, with assistance from the Massachusetts State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit attached to the State Fire Marshal’s Office, is currently investigating the cause of the fire. Preliminarily, the cause of the fire does not appear to be intentional, but the investigation remains ongoing.

Through the preliminary investigation, investigators learned from video evidence that the fire started roughly 12 to 14 minutes before the Fire Department received the initial 911 call.

“I would like to commend our Middleborough Fire crews that did an incredible job on the scene last night,” Chief Thompson said. “We were able to simultaneously initiate a fire attack and complete search and rescue operations. Over the last couple of years, the Town, the Firefighters’ Union, and the Fire Department have worked collaboratively to increase our staffing, allowing us to do that. I want to commend Firefighters Thomas Melucci and Robert Delaney, who demonstrated bravery and dedication as they located and removed the victim in the face of severe fire conditions.”