For Immediate Release

Friday, Dec. 29, 2017

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

East Bridgewater Fire Department Extinguishes Garage Blaze in Frigid Cold

EAST BRIDGEWATER – Chief Timothy Harhen reports that the East Bridgewater Fire Department extinguished a fire inside of a detached garage behind a home early Friday morning.

At approximately 5:50 a.m., the fire department received a call reporting a fire in the rear of 358 West Union St. inside of a detached garage. At the time, the temperature was 4 degrees outside.

When firefighters arrived, heavy flames were coming through the roof of the structure. With water quickly turning to ice in the frigid air, it took firefighters about 30 minutes to put out the blaze.

The garage and most of its contents were deemed a total loss. Officials estimate that about $175,000 in damage was done. The cause is believed to be due to an oil burning furnace that caught fire inside of the garage. No one was inside at the time of the fire.

A firefighter sustained a minor injury when he slipped and fell on ice while on scene. No medical services were required.

“I want to commend Captain Jeffrey Kelley, Engines 3 and 2 and our mutual aid partners for their quick knockdown of the fire in this very, very cold weather,” Chief Harhen said. “Luckily we didn’t run into too many issues, like hydrants freezing, but it makes things a lot more difficult when the water freezes almost immediately.”

The Rockland Fire Department provided station coverage for East Bridgewater until they were called to assist with a West Bridgewater house fire, and the Halifax Fire Department took over station coverage.

The State Fire Marshal’s office responded to assist with investigating the cause of the blaze. The fire is not considered to be suspicious.

Chief Harhen reminds residents to have heating units serviced yearly.

“It’s not something that everyone thinks about, but it can help avoid situations like we had this morning,” Chief Harhen said.

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