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Fire at Rockland heating oil business knocked down

ROCKLAND, Mass. — A fire broke out at a heating oil business in Rockland early Monday and the state fire marshal says it was caused by an overloaded power strip.

Several streets surrounding the business at 265 Plain St. were blocked off and closed to traffic for about two hours as firefighters tackled the 2-alarm fire. Power to the area was shut off.

Around 5 a.m. firefighters could be seen inspecting the building at Kelliher Brothers Oil Co. that suffered a roof collapse from the blaze.

Oil tanks next to the building were no longer in use, according to the Rockland Fire Chief.

A firefighter also suffered non-life threatening injuries. Boston 25 News saw the firefighter getting loaded into an ambulance after the fire was extinguished.

No one else was injured in the fire.

State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey said later Monday the fire was sparked by an overloaded power strip. No one was in the building at the time of the fire.

"It's important not to overload extension cords and power strips," Ostroskey said. "Use only small appliances that don't draw a lot of current."

He offered additional tips for preventing electrical fires:

  • Do not overload outlets.
  • Plug heavy-duty appliances like air conditioners and space heaters directly into an outlet, not into a power strip or extension cord.
  • Don't put electrical cords underneath rugs or pile items on top of them.
  • Make sure cords are not pinched behind furniture
  • Charge laptops and phones only on hard surfaces, not on beds or sofas.
  • Have a licensed electrician review your home's electrical system every ten years. Small upgrades and safety checks can prevent larger problems.

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