Essex County

Dramatic rescue saves two from fatal Groveland fire

GROVELAND, Mass. — A fast-moving fire last Friday on Manor Drive killed one man. But, were it not for the actions of Groveland Police officers, two other occupants might not have survived, either.

The fire broke out just before 3:00 p.m. — and quickly spread through the first floor.

“I had just dressed down because it was shift change,” said Officer Christopher L’Italien. “I asked the chief if I could respond. I responded in just plain clothes.”

Groveland Police Chief Jeffrey Gillen knew the town’s fire department was held up on another call.

“I said, ‘yeah, we could probably use your help,’” Gillen said.

That proved to be an understatement.

“When I showed up you could see the entire left side of the building was overtaken by flames,” L’Italien said.

Officers determined the first-floor occupant was already dead — and that there was no way to escape out the front door. However, they did not think anybody else was in the building — but did begin an operation to rescue a dog on the second floor.

Then, things got a little more complicated.

“An older gentleman approached us and and said that his wife and granddaughter were on the second floor above the fire,” L’Italien said.

The only way out was a back porch, but there were two problems with that. First, it had no stairs. And second, there was a barrier separating the side of the porch that was on fire from the side that wasn’t.

L’Italien’s only choice was to climb the porch from the ground.

“I pride myself on physical fitness,” he said.

With the help of a colleague — and his own strength, L’Italien managed to get to the side of the porch that wasn’t burning. His task now was to somehow get the trapped occupants to safety.

And things were about to get worse.

“There was an explosion just as I made it to the second deck,” L’Italien said.

That explosion — and others that followed — were attributed to medical oxygen tanks used by the now-deceased first-floor occupant.

“The flames started coming up the side of the building and overtook the deck,” he said.

“I was getting to the point I was telling them to jump,” said Chief Gillen. “That it was that close.”

The woman and her granddaughter wound up not needing to jump — as somehow, L’Italien pulled them to the safe side of the porch where, finally, a fire department ladder was waiting.

“One of the last explosions just engulfed that deck right where those people were not a minute before,” Gillen said. “Without exaggerating.”

L’Italien is not looking for recognition — and was quick to include the names of the colleagues who also responded to the fire — and helped hoist him up the porch.

“It’s not my department, but we’re ready to respond to anything and help out when we need to,” L’Italien said.

It’s safe to say, in this case, the officer went above and beyond the call of duty.

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