01/08/2020 - WHITMAN, MASSACHUSETTS (PLYMOUTH COUNTY) - A little after 0900 hours on the morning of Wednesday, January 8, 2020 the Whitman Fire Department responded to a report of a building fire at 293 School Street. A box was struck and Car-1, Car-3, Engine-243 and Ladder-246 responded. Contractors who were working on an addition to the house arrived to go to work and smelled smoke. They called 9-1-1 to report the possible fire. Companies arrived to find smoke showing from a 2-story wood framed dwelling that was under construction. A working fire was requested bringing a Hanson engine, Abington tower, and a Halifax ambulance to the scene and an Abington engine to cover. Crews made an aggressive interior attack, searching for any victims and for the seat of the fire. They encountered a heavy smoke condition throughout the house. Companies were able to locate a fire in the basement and quickly knock it down. The residents of the house were not home at the time of the fire. When the home owner arrived, she alerted firefighters to a pet rabbit who was in the house. Firefighters were able to locate the rabbit and remove it safely from the house and back to the home owner. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The American Red Cross, and Massachusetts State Fire Marshal were both requested to the scene. No injuries were reported.
