FITCHBURG, Mass. — Two adults have died after a house fire in Fitchburg early Sunday morning, according to the Massachusetts State Fire Marshall’s office. The two victims were found unconscious and not breathing after a two-alarm fire ripped through a single-family home on Highland Ave. in Fitchburg, officials said.
The fire was reported around 12:30 a.m. and Leominster Fire assisted.
Fitchburg Fire Deputy Chief Thomas Dateo Jr. said that one person was found on the first floor and the other on the second.
“Both were taken out rapidly within 15 minutes of the initial operation and then we just extinguished the fire,” Dateo Jr. said.
“Both victims were unconscious, not breathing,” he added.
Two people found unconscious after a fire rips through a Fitchburg home. Updates all morning on @boston25 pic.twitter.com/zbTueVZBAr
— Natalie Rubino (@newswithnatalie) January 5, 2020
“It’s tragic,” said Elita Cabrera, a neighbor. “Hoping they would make it. But, unfortunately, they didn’t.”
The DA has not identified either of the victims yet.
A hazmat crew was on scene after an acrid smell was reported, which was believed to be from chemicals in an unused photo lab, the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services said.
The fire started in the front-right side of the home, officials said. They added that it doesn’t appear to be suspicious and that the initial focus is on an overloaded power strip.
Fitchburg Fire, along with state and local police are investigating.
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