WHITMAN — Chief Timothy Clancy reports that the Whitman Fire Department quickly extinguished three separate fires over three days this week.
If not for the department’s fast response and quick action at the scene, three homes could have been lost.
“Our crews responded and acted fast to bring these fires under control,” said Chief Clancy. “Damage at all three scenes was minimal for structure fires, but could have been far worse.”
Porch Fire
On Tuesday, March 4, at 1:45 p.m., the Whitman Fire Department was notified of a possible house fire at 821 Washington St.
The Holbrook Regional Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call from the occupant reporting that the front porch was on fire. Whitman Fire Department’s Car 1, Car 2, Car 3, Engine 243, Engine 242, and Abington Tower 1 responded to the initial alarm.
Light smoke was visible from the second-floor porch when fire crews arrived on the scene. Firefighters opened up the porch and found fire in the void spaces between the first and second floors. Deputy Chief Nicholas Grasso identified the blaze as a working fire.
Firefighters used two handlines to knock down the fire, bringing the flames under control within 20 minutes.
Mutual aid fire companies from the towns of Abington, East Bridgewater, Hanson, Rockland, and a Halifax ambulance responded to the scene. A Bridgewater engine covered Whitman Fire headquarters. The Whitman Emergency Management Agency Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) provided rehab services on scene. Whitman Fire was also assisted on scene by the Whitman Police Department, and the Plymouth County Sheriffs Department Bureau of Criminal Investigation Unit.
The cause of the fire was determined to be improper disposal of smoking materials. Damages to the home are estimated at $15,000. No injuries were reported, and no residents were displaced.
Oven Fire
On Monday, March 3, Whitman Fire Department received a 911 call for a reported oven fire in a unit at 629 Washington St. at 7:09 p.m.
Car 3, Engines 242 and 243 arrived on the scene by 7:14 p.m. From outside of the four-story, lightweight wood-constructed residential unit over a commercial building, no alarms were sounding, and no flames or smoke were showing.
Firefighters manually activated the alarm to help evacuate the building. They went door-to-door to ensure all occupants were out of the building.
Firefighters entered the unit and found moderate smoke and the remnants of a small fire inside the apartment’s oven. The resident told firefighters that he was pre-heating the oven and did not realize there was a plastic pan inside.
After the oven started to smoke, the resident shut it off, called 911 and evacuated the apartment with his wife and cat.
Firefighters removed the melted plastic pan and ventilated the building’s adjacent hallways. The building was checked for carbon monoxide but cleared. Adjacent cabinets and walls were inspected, but no indication of heat was found.
Car 2 and Engine 241 arrived on the scene to assist. All units cleared the scene by 7:47 p.m.
No injuries were reported, and no residents were displaced.
Deck Fire
The Whitman Fire Department responded to a deck fire at 651 Plymouth St. at 5:58 p.m., on Sunday, March 2.
Whitman Car 3, Engine 243, Ladder 246 and Car 240 arrived to find a two-story, wood-framed single-family residence threatened by a small fire at the rear of the home that had extended to the home’s rear deck.
The homeowners told firefighters that they had a small fire in their backyard fire pit, about five feet from the deck. The residents briefly left the fire unattended and returned to find the deck and several lawn chairs burning.
The residents immediately called 911 at 5:54 p.m. and attempted to extinguish the fire with a garden hose and small fire extinguisher but were unsuccessful. The home’s five occupants and three small dogs evacuated the residence by the time firefighters arrived on the scene. They reported no injuries.
Engine 243 quickly extinguished the fire. Ladder 246 crews entered the residence and found no evidence of smoke or fire extension into the house. Plymouth County Sheriff’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) responded to the scene to photograph the damage.
Fire crews extensively wet down and overhauled the fire damage.
Damage to the exterior of the home was estimated around $30,000. The home’s interior was not damaged, and the occupants were not displaced by the fire.
All Whitman Fire Department units cleared the scene by 6:37 p.m.
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