CHELMSFORD, Mass. — The Chelmsford Fire department is investigating how an elderly man died in an overnight fire. Two firefighters were also injured fighting the flames.
The fire In the tightly packed Chelmsford Commons, a manufactured home community, broke out just after 12:45 Wednesday morning.
“It’s awful, it’s scary,” said Michelle Lane-Bamford, who lives in the community.
Neighbors woke up to firetrucks and police cars lining Mason Ave.
“I saw all this smoke and then they started evacuating people from the houses,” said Christina Jenks, who lives in the neighborhood.
“And I look out and I could see the flames coming from the top of the house and I knew it wasn’t going to be good,” said Jason Allen of Chelmsford.
The firefighters rushed in to save the elderly man inside, but he did not survive.
“He was a great man and he’ll be missed greatly especially in this community because a lot of people did know him,” said Allen.
Allen says he and his mother helped take care of him for nearly two decades.
“My mom would help him clean the house, I would help him take care of his cat and heavy lifting and anything like that,” said Allen.
Allen says the man’s health was declining, he was wheelchair bound, and he lived alone. Allen says he made some important phone calls right before he passed away.
“He called the fire department first and then he made a phone call to his sister and was able to say my house is one fire I’m not going to make it, I’ll miss you, goodbye and to me that’s heartbreaking,” said Allen.
Just as tragic, the man, a veteran, was about to be moved into senior housing to be cared for around the clock.
“He served our country, he’s made it through wars and illness and to go out like this it’s just such a tragedy and undeserved for that man,” said Allen.
Two firefighters, one from Chelmsford and one from Billerica, were injured. But it appears they are going to be ok. The firefighters were treated on scene but were still taken to the hospital as a precaution. The investigation into what caused the fire is ongoing, but the state fire marshal says it does not appear to be suspicious.
This is what’s left of the mobile home that caught fire in Chelmsford overnight. One man died, two firefighters were injured. The cause of the fire is now under investigation. @boston25 pic.twitter.com/QGcyT42Dlv
— Kelly Sullivan (@ksullivannews) February 16, 2022
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
©2022 Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/7QOJU3BNCJERBNKJC5LWTBYFLU.png)
