02/24/2023 - BRIDGEWATER, MASSACHUSETTS (PLYMOUTH COUNTY) - Around 0700 hours on the morning of Friday, February 24, 2023 the Bridgewater Fire Department responded to a reported fire in the attic at 596 Main Street. Companies arrived to find heavy smoke showing from the 2.5-story wood framed, occupied dwelling. A working fire was requested, bringing a West Bridgewater engine to the scene, and an East Bridgewater engine to cover Bridgewater's headquarters. Due to the timing of shift change, firefighters coming on to their Friday morning shift also responded right to the scene. Due to the balloon frame construction of the house that was built around 1900, the fire was found to have easily spread through the walls to the first and second floors. Companies had to open up walls on the interior and exterior of the house, in attempts to expose and extinguish the fire. Firefighters were able to knock down the fire with the use of several hand lines and labor intensive overhauling operations. Crews were able to leave the scene around 0915 hours. Two residents were inside the home at the time of the fire, and were able to safely exit the house prior to the fire department's arrival. Two cats were located and successfully removed from the house. No injuries were reported. The house sustained extensive water and smoke damage. Four residents of the house are displaced as a result of the fire. East Bridgewater Fire responded to the scene in Squad-1 with their Air Supply Unit to refill SCBA bottles on the scene. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Bridgewater Fire Department.
