06/06/2023 - EAST BRIDGEWATER, MASSACHUSETTS (PLYMOUTH COUNTY) - At 0056 hours on the morning of Tuesday, June 6, 2023 the East Bridgewater Fire Department struck a box for a reported structure fire at 243 Whitman Street. A passerby, who called 9-1-1 and reported the fire, along with the first arriving police officer kicked in a rear door to check for occupants before the fire department arrived. Fire companies arrived to find a fully involved attached garage and car fire which had begun extending to the single story wood framed ranch style dwelling. A working fire was requested, bringing engines from Bridgewater and Whitman to the scene, and a West Bridgewater engine to cover. Crews stretched a hand line and made an aggressive interior attack into the home. An additional hand line was deployed to knock down the fire in the garage and car. Once a water supply was secured, additional hand lines were stretched by the mutual aid companies who were arriving on-scene. The fire quickly ran through the attic space of the home, and fire was seen coming through the roof. Whitman Engine-243's crew was tasked with a vent, enter, and search of a bedroom on the A-side, as no occupants had exited the building. Shortly after completing the search, all companies were ordered out of the building as the roof began to come in. Crews went defensive and operated large lines outside of the building. Subsequent searches of the home were negative, and the home owners were found to be at work at the time of the blaze. Unfortunately, three of the family's dogs perished in the fire and were recovered by firefighters. The fire was knocked down within an hour, but needed to be extensively overhauled. The State Fire Marshal's office was requested to respond to investigate the blaze. The American Red Cross responded to assist the displaced residents. Whitman Ambulance-247 responded to the scene to evaluate the passerby who reported the fire, but left the scene without needing treatment. No other injuries were reported. The cause of the blaze is under investigation.
