09/15/2022 - WHITMAN, MASSACHUSETTS (PLYMOUTH COUNTY) - At 0535 hours on the morning of Thursday, September 15, 2022 the Whitman Fire Department received two calls reporting a house fire at 137 West Street. Engine-243, Ladder-246 and Car-3 responded. Upon arrival, Captain Jay Mahoney reported heavy fire showing on the "C" side of the 2.5-story wood frame occupied dwelling. A working fire was immediately requested, bringing mutual aid to work and cover. Shortly after arrival, as heavy fire conditions were endangering the exposures on the "B" and "D" sides, a second alarm was ordered. Companies stretched a 3" hand line with a Blitz gun attachment to the rear of the building and dumped the tank water on the heavy fire engulfing the rear porch and exterior of the dwelling. While a water supply was established, crews stretched dry lines to the first and second floors and completed searched. All occupants were reported to be out of the building. Once a water supply was established, the remaining fire on the "C" side exterior of the building was knocked down and crews opened up and extinguished fire in the walls on the first and second floors. Several lines were stretched and put into operation. Heavy fire was knocked down quickly, but crews were tied up extensively overhauling and extinguishing pockets of fire throughout the dwelling. The Massachusetts State Fire Marshal's Office was requested to the scene to investigate the cause of the fire. Plymouth County Sheriff's Department BCI units was also called into assist with photographing the scene. The cause is under investigation, but is not considered to be suspicious. Mutual aid engines, ladders, and ambulances from Brockton, East Bridgewater, Hanson, Halifax, Norwell and Rockland worked on-scene, while a Bridgewater engine covered the station. Fire Chiefs from Brockton, East Bridgewater, Hanson and Rockland assisted on-scene. Fire ground rehab was provided by Whitman CERT and the Boston Sparks Association. No injuries were reported, but two cats perished in the blaze. The home is owned by a Quincy firefighter who lived there with his wife and three small children. While they were all able to escape the fire, unfortunately they lost everything they own. A GoFundMe has been established to assist the family while they try to get back on their feet.
