State Trooper rescues trapped man as Middleboro veterans home destroyed by fire

MIDDLEBOROUGH – Fire Chief Lance Benjamino reports that the Middleborough Fire Department extinguished a fire at a three-story home for veterans on West Grove Street today.

At approximately 1:12 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 22, first responders were dispatched for a report of a house fire at Acorn Hill Home, 285 West Grove St. Upon arrival, first responders found heavy fire conditions showing from the upper two stories of the home.

A State Police Trooper was the first person to arrive on scene, and he discovered a man trapped on the third floor of the home. The trooper used an onsite ground ladder to assist the man in climbing out a third-floor window and to the ground, where he was then transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital.

The trooper also was transported by ambulance to an area hospital for evaluation.

Fire crews mounted an aggressive exterior fire attack, then went inside to complete extinguishing the fire. The fire was under control within 45 minutes of crews’ arrival.

The remaining 12 occupants were able to exit the house on their own. Two of these occupants were evaluated on scene, but declined to be transported to the hospital.

The home is considered a total loss due to heavy fire and smoke damage. As a result, the 13 residents of the home have been displaced and are being assisted by the American Red Cross.

The Lakeville, Raynham and Carver fire departments provided mutual aid at the scene, and the Wareham Fire Department provided station coverage. Middleborough Police also assisted on scene.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Middleborough Fire Department and the State Police assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s Office. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) also responded to the scene to assist with the investigation.