Massachusetts firefighters rescue man from burning home: ‘Incredible job… bravery’

Local firefighters rescued a man from his burning home amid “severe fire conditions” Monday night, according to officials.

The 67-year-old man rescued from his Middleboro house was then transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, which included burns and smoke inhalation.

Firefighters responded to 6 Locust St., a two-story home in South Middleboro, for a report of a house fire at around 9:15 p.m. Monday.

Upon arrival, firefighters attacked the blaze from the outside. They then learned from neighbors that the home’s occupant was likely still inside the home.

Firefighters “conducted an aggressive search” and found the man near a side entrance, officials said. He was then transported by a Coastal Medical Transportation ambulance to Rhode Island Hospital.

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.

“I would like to commend our Middleborough Fire crews that did an incredible job on the scene last night,” Middleboro Fire Chief Owen Thompson said in a statement. “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,” the chief added. “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.”

Middleboro 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.

The cause does not appear to be intentional, but the investigation remains ongoing.

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

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