Elderly Man And Dog Perish In Early Morning Foxborough House Fire

FOXBOROUGH, MA — An elderly man and a dog perished in an early morning Foxborough house fire.

Foxborough firefighters responded to the house on Granite Street near Union Street about 3 a.m. Tuesday after a police officer on patrol smelled smoke, according to a media release from the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services.

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"Firefighters found the single-family home well involved on arrival, with flames venting through the windows," the release said. "They immediately began to attack the fire on the ground and using an aerial ladder to gain access to the roof."

The house sustained major damage and the body of a man in his 80s was found at the scene, according to the release.

A dog also died in the fire, the release said.

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“Our hearts go out to the family that lost a loved one this morning,” Foxborough Fire Chief Michael P. Kelleher said in the release.

“This is a sad day for them and our community,” Kelleher said.

The man was the sole resident of the home, according to the release.

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The origin and cause of the fire remain under investigation.

“This winter has been especially challenging for Massachusetts firefighters,” State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine said in the release.

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“Notwithstanding the bitter cold and heavy snow, they’ve confronted fatal fires in every region of the state," Davine said. "In too many cases, they found smoke alarms that weren’t working or no alarms at all. Please take a few minutes to be sure you and your loved ones are protected by working smoke alarms on every level of your home.”

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