Maynard Fire Kills 1, Injures 3 First Responders

Sudbury MA

03 September, 2021

10:44 AM

Description

MAYNARD, MA — A multi-alarm fire in Maynard killed one person and sent three first responders to the hospital Thursday afternoon. The name of the victim has not been released, but the state fire marshal said that the deceased is an adult who lived in a Park Street home. Two Maynard police officers and a firefighter were also injured, Maynard Fire Chief Anthony Stowers said. They were taken to the nearest hospital with injuries believed to be non-life-threatening. The fire marshal has said they are expected to recover. Maynard firefighters arrived on Park Street at around 4:10 p.m. after the town received a call about a gas-like smell coming from the home. The caller was uncertain if the smell was gas or carbon monoxide. Crews arrived to find smoke coming from the front and side windows of the house, Stowers said. Upon entering the home, firefighters found the victim dead in the basement. Neighbors told NBC10 Boston that the home was inhabited by a friendly couple for over 40 years. "I'm just so heartbroken for them," neighbor Libbie Pilsch told NBC. "This is their life, this is their home, this is them and in a second it's gone." Pilsch said she heard a big explosion, and called 911. Windows were blown and thrust across the street, according to an NBC report. Aerial footage showed a robust coordinated response. The Maynard Fire Department said it received mutual aid from the Concord, ACton, Stow, Hudson, Lincoln, Wayland, Boxborough, and Sudbury Fire Departments. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Maynard Fire Department and the State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit assigned to the State Fire Marshal's office and the Middlesex District Attorney.