FOX25 Investigates the danger hoarding poses to firefighters

NATICK, Mass. — FOX25 Investigates has learned of more than a dozen fires linked to hoarding or excessive clutter in the past 16 months in Massachusetts.

Firefighters said this growing problem puts their lives at risk.

This past January, a fire in Saugus quickly turned into a near tragedy when a firefighter issued a mayday call.

“I heard someone hitting the window,” said Malden firefighter Gregory Jean. “I reached in and grabbed his hand to assist him coming out of the building. I told him ‘give me your hand brother. Give me your hand.’”

Fire investigators said the fire was made worse because the home was cluttered with debris.

Investigators in Scituate said clutter made it difficult for them to reach a man inside a home there this January.

The victim died.

Natick fire chief Richard White told FOX25 Investigates that hoarding slows down response time and creates an unknown danger.

“It’s probably bigger than even I know,” said Chief White.”If we have a building on fire and we’ve got everybody out and it’s a hoarding situation and my firefighters can’t get in to fight the fire properly to knock the fire down, I’m not going to risk their lives.”

FOX25 investigates requested information on how often clutter and congestion are a problem in deadly fires.

The state’s fire marshal’s office told us there is no reporting system to fires where hoarding occurs, but we found at least 16 cases in the past 16 months were it was an issue.

An Inside Look

At the Barnstable County Fire Training Academy firefighters from across the county go through various training exercises, including hoarding.

They set up a scenario for FOX25’s Blair Miller to go through with them.

From the first step inside, Blair faced clutter and junk, even forcing him to crawl on the ground and up the stairs in thick smoke and darkness.

Despite the danger, firefighters told them they have seen far worse.

“There could be garbage, trash, furniture, whatever just blocking the entire stairway and it could come collapsing and block a door,” they told FOX25.

Dealing with the Disorder

The state’s fire Marshal’s office has formed a task force to help people deal with hoarding issues before it becomes a public safety concern.

Many towns, like Natick, have formed their own task force.

Marnie McDonald leads the North Shore Center for Hoarding and Cluttering.

She said for some hoarding is a medical issue.

“What you have to understand is not only is a mental health issue. There's also processing issues that go along with it because a portion of their brain functions differently.”

To learn of hoarding task forces in your community check, click here. 

Cox Media Group