On Monday April 24, 2017 at 9:05 a.m., the East Bridgewater Police Department began receiving 911 calls for a house fire a 4 Beaver Village Way. On arrival of the Police and Fire Departments, a two-story colonial dwelling was well-involved in fire. One of the residents, an 86-year-old male, was found outside the home. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
A second alarm was struck by Fire Chief Timothy Harhen, bringing West Bridgewater, Whitman, Brockton, and Hanson fire crews to the scene, while the Halifax Fire Department provided coverage for East Bridgewater.
State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey and Chief Harhen state that the fatal fire was started as a riding lawnmower fire. The fire ignited the victim’s clothing. The lawnmower was underneath the deck of the home, which ignited and the single family home on fire.
The American Red Cross was notified to help provide aid to the other residents. The fire was jointly investigated by the East Bridgewater Police and Fire Departments and State Police assigned to Plymouth District Attorney Timothy Cruz.
The District Attorney’s Office will be releasing the victim’s name after confirmation and notification of next of kin.