Dog perishes in New Year’s Day house fire

By Mike Berger

A two-alarm fire on Saturday, January 1 severely damaged an Eagle Drive home and claimed the life of the residents’ four-month-old dog. The family came home at 6:23 p.m. to find the garage engulfed in smoke. When the residents opened the garage door they found one of their dogs immediately, but according to Fire Chief Charlie Doody, a second dog had retreated to the second floor and was overcome by smoke. The homeowners called 911 from a neighboring home.

A firefighter helps battle fire on Eagle Drive. (Brian Loughran photo)

One firefighter suffered a shoulder injury after falling on ice in back of the house. He was treated and released at Norwood Hospital and will be out of work for one to two weeks, Doody said.

The home, which suffered structural, smoke and water damage, was deemed uninhabitable by Building Inspector Ed Walsh and all utilities were turned off. The family is currently staying with a relative. Doody estimated damage to be in the $100,000 range.

The building inspector and the fire and police departments have determined that the fire was accidental with the cause as yet undetermined.

Firefighters led by Captain Ed Freitas responded to the 911 call and found heavy smoke and flames throughout the two-and-a-half-story home, with the fire principally on the first floor and in the basement.

Freitas submitted a second alarm, calling in mutual aid from Norwood, Sharon, Stoughton, Randolph, and Walpole. Doody said 25 firefighters worked to control the fire, which Doody said they “got hold of” by 7:10 p.m. but remained on the scene until 9:30 p.m. for cleanup and investigations.

“This was a difficult fire to battle, as we had trouble exposing the fire in the basement and first floor,” Doody said. “The guys did a terrific job. It was a large house and full of smoke. Captain Freitas made the right decision on the second alarm and followed proper procedures.”

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