SOMERVILLE, Mass. — A woman is dead after a fire at a homeless encampment. Investigators believe it could be an accident while she was trying to stay warm.
One thing that the folks at the Somerville homeless coalition told me today as we wait for the identity of that woman from officials is—they probably worked with her and probably knew her. And they are completely devastated.
In Somerville, and across the state, numbers of homelessness continue to grow.
“We have to turn away every day from our shelter and it’s a really hard thing to do,” said Mike Libby, the Executive Director of Somerville Homeless Coalition.
Now that it’s getting colder, people facing homelessness are desperate to stay warm. Mike Libby of the Somerville Homeless coalition says that it’s when people are desperate that they do dangerous things to stay warm.
“It’s the call we dread each and every day throughout the year, but especially in the winter,” said Libby. “People are trying to stay warm. It’s an increased hazard.”
On Thursday afternoon a fire here at a homeless encampment in Somerville left one person dead. Although officials say it’s still under investigation – the fire marshal compared the fire to one earlier this year where someone accidentally started it trying to stay warm.
“It’s heartbreaking,” said Hannah O’Halloran, the Director of Homeless Services. “To think it was probably somebody just trying to stay warm it’s heartbreaking.”
The city of Somerville has opened warming centers that are available all night for people to get warm from now until April.
The cause of death for the woman found at the encampment yesterday is still under investigation.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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