Kevin Partridge, Fire Chief
413 Bay Road
South Easton, MA 02375
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019
Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net
Easton Fire Department Extinguishes Two-Alarm House Fire
Man, Age 84, Found Dead in Home
EASTON — Chief Kevin Partridge and State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey report that a house fire is under investigation after the body of a man was found inside after the fire was put out.
At approximately 8 a.m. Wednesday, Easton firefighters responded to 42 Dean St. for a report of smoke coming from the backside of a single-family home. Upon arrival, firefighters came upon heavy smoke and flames coming from the basement and first floor of the home.
Firefighters were impeded from making an aggressive interior attack due to the presence of an excessive amount of clutter inside the house.
Chief Partridge, who was incident commander at the scene, struck a second alarm and additional firefighters from area departments arrived on scene.
A body, believed to be that of homeowner David Berman, age 84, of Easton, was located by firefighters inside the home. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The origin and cause of the fire remain under investigation by the Easton Fire Department, the Easton Police Department, the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Bristol County District Attorney Crime Prevention and Control (CPAC) Unit. The Medical Examiners’ Office will formally identify the victim and determine the cause of death.
Firefighters from Mansfield, Norton, West Bridgewater, Raynham and Stoughton responded to the scene, while members of the Raynham, Avon and Brockton fire departments provided station coverage for Easton. It took firefighters about two hours to fully extinguish the flames.
No one else was inside the home, and no firefighters were injured during the response. The basement sustained significant fire damage and the first floor and basement had smoke and water damage throughout.
“On behalf of the Easton Fire Department, I would like to extend our condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Berman,” Chief Partridge said. “In speaking with his family this afternoon, I have come to learn that Mr. Berman was both an Air Force and Marine veteran and we are thankful for his service.”
The fire Wednesday was the second fire at a home that the Easton Fire Department responded to in two days. On Tuesday, at 3:53 a.m., Easton Fire responded to a fire at the mobile home park on Turnpike Street.
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