A Massachusetts State Police trooper rescued a man from a burning building overnight in Middleboro, Massachusetts.
The Middleboro Fire Department was called to Acorn Hill Home, a three-story home for veterans at 285 West Grove Street, shortly after 1 a.m. Firefighters knocked the flames down in about 45 minutes and had to be pulled out of the building at one point.
Before firefighters arrived on scene, state police Trooper John Haggerty saw the blaze, pulled over and asked if anyone was in the building. One man was stuck inside on the third floor.
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Haggerty tried to get in the house but ended up using a ladder that was outside to help the man out of a window. The man was rushed to a Rhode Island hospital with serious life-threatening burns. Haggerty was taken to the Morton Hospital, where he was treated for smoke inhalation and released.
Middleboro Fire Chief Lance Benjamino said the man is in the ICU in serious condition. He credited Haggerty, from the Middleborough Police Barracks, for making the recue.
"If not for him we'd be doing a more thorough search and have a different scene here," Benjamino said. “Clearly made difference between life and death, obviously with this gentleman that was rescued.”
A total of 13 people live in the home, including some veterans. Two other residents were treated on scene for minor burns. The victim was not a veteran.
The home was heavily damaged and is now considered a total loss. Residents are now staying at a nearby hospital with the assistance of the American Red Cross.
The state fire marshal's office said the blaze was accidental, caused by an unattended candle burning in a second floor living room.
The Lakeville, Raynham and Carver fire departments provided mutual aid at the scene, and the Wareham Fire Department provided station coverage. Middleboro police also assisted on scene. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation also responded to the scene to assist with the investigation.
No further information was immediately available.
