Update: Fire victim has died from injuries in Middleboro blaze

MIDDLEBORO – The victim who was rescued from a house fire at 6 Locust St. with severe burns has died, officials said Wednesday.

Nathaniel Williams, 67, died Tuesday, Dec. 3 at Rhode Island Hospital, Fire Chief Owen Thompson said.

Fire officials received a call at about 9:16 p.m. Monday reporting a fire at the two-story home, Thompson said. When firefighters arrived, the front rooms were fully engulfed in flames.

Neighbors told firefighters they believed the man was still in the home. 

After an aggressive search, firefighters located Williams and rescued him through a side entrance, the department reported. 

He suffered from both burns and smoke inhalation, Thompson said. 

The department had visited the home before on medical calls regarding Williams, which allowed them to know where the man was likely to be located within the house, Thompson said. 

He was the sole occupant of the home when the fire started. 

One firefighter suffered a minor ear laceration and was treated at the scene.

Based on video evidence, the fire started about 12 to 14 minutes before the department received an initial 911 call, Thompson said. 

Another six minutes elapsed before firefighters reached the scene.

That gave the fire an “18-minute head start,’’ Thompson said, which was the “biggest challenge’’ in battling the blaze.

The bulk of the fire was extinguished at about 12:30 a.m., but crews remained on the scene throughout the morning to extinguish hot spots.

Thompson praised the efforts of the fire crews, who he said displayed their “true dedication to this town’’ through their work.

"I would like to commend our Middleboro Fire crews that did an incredible job on the scene last night," Thompson said. "We were able to simultaneously initiate a fire attack and complete search and rescue operations. Over the last couple of years, the town, the firefighters' union, and the fire department have worked collaboratively to increase our staffing, allowing us to do that.’’

He commended Firefighters Thomas Melucci and Robert Delaney, who “demonstrated bravery and dedication as they located and removed the victim in the face of severe fire conditions."

Town Manager Jay McGrail also said he was “proud of the firefighters that were involved in this effort and rescue.’’ 

The town announced a grant of just over $2 million in September to hire six new firefighters. The grant was awarded through a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant, known informally as a SAFER grant. This grant is distributed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, known as FEMA.

The new staffing will allow the department to operate the South and Central fire stations at all times with a three-member engine crew. 

Renovations are nearly complete at the South Middleboro station to accommodate the re-opening. “We are happy to be able to open it permanently to help Middleboro in the future,’’ McGrail said, 

The State Fire Marshal is currently investigating the cause of the fire which does not appear to be intentional at this time, the department reported. 

Mutual aid was provided by crews from Lakeville, Bridgewater, Carver and Wareham. Carver firefighters also provided station coverage.

“On behalf of the entire Middleboro Fire Department, I want to express my heartfelt condolences to the victim's family and loved ones," Thompson said.