Victim and cause identified in fatal Middleboro fire

MIDDLEBORO — A 90-year-old woman died early Monday morning in a house fire that investigators say was likely started by smoking.

Firefighters arrived at 72 Everett Street shortly before 3 a.m. on Sept. 1 to find flames pouring from multiple first-floor windows of a two-story, multi-family home. Crews entered the building and found 90-year-old Anne Tichelaar on the first floor. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Three other residents — homeowners Napoleon and Deborah Desrosiers, along with another relative — escaped the home without injury before emergency crews arrived. Tichelaar was Deborah Desrosiers’ mother, according to a gofundme page created by the family. 

Investigators have preliminarily determined the fire started accidentally in the first-floor living room and was likely caused by smoking. 

The exact cause and manner of Tichelaar’s death will be determined by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

According to the Department of Fire Services, there were no working smoke alarms in the home at the time of the fire.

“This was a tragic situation,” said Middleboro Fire Chief Owen Thompson. “On behalf of the department, I want to express our heartfelt condolences to Ms. Tichelaar’s loved ones.”

Fire crews brought the blaze under control within 30 minutes, but the home sustained significant damage. Flames and smoke affected both floors and the attic. No firefighters were injured during the response.

“This is the third fatal fire in Middleborough in the past two years,” Thompson said. “I also want to remind our residents that smoking is the leading cause of fatal fires in Massachusetts. It’s especially dangerous to smoke in bed.”

State Fire Marshal Jon Davine urged residents to ensure their homes are equipped with working alarms and to take extra precautions around smoking materials.

“Working smoke alarms are your first line of defense in an emergency,” Davine said. “Please take a few minutes today to be sure you have them on every level of your home. Check the manufacturing date printed on the back of the device and replace it if it’s more than 10 years old. And test your alarms each month to be sure you and your loved ones are protected.”

During the response early Monday morning, Fire departments from Raynham, Bridgewater, Lakeville and Carver assisted at the scene while Wareham firefighters covered Middleboro stations.

By midday on Sept. 1, family members and neighbors had returned to the property to begin boarding up broken windows and securing the home.

Neighbor Rob Willis, who has lived on Everett Street for more than two decades, remembered Tichelaar fondly.

“She was a great lady,” Willis said. “I’ve lived here for 24 years, and they were here when I moved in. They’ve always been great neighbors. I hope they rebuild.”

Officials previously reported Tichelaar was 91-years-old. 

The gofundme page for the Desrosiers is titled, “Support for Debbie & Nappy DesRosiers After Tragic Fire.” Donated money will be used for immediate necessities as well as future housing, according to the page's creator.