The raging fire that killed a 21-year-old woman in Needham on Christmas Eve morning appears to have started in the home’s garage, with preliminary evidence suggesting an accidental cause, according to authorities leading the investigation.
The Needham Fire Department responded to 28 Woodworth Road shortly before 5 a.m., with firefighters observing heavy smoke and flames bursting out of the three-story, single-family home.
The massive blaze prevented the first responding crews from entering the house, as the fire spread quickly throughout the structure, causing “catastrophic damage.”
Two of the three people in the home at the time escaped, but the third person, a 21-year-old woman, did not make it out. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is set to conduct a formal identification procedure and determine the cause and manner of death, according to officials.
“Our thoughts have been with the family since the early morning hours of December 24, and they remain with the family today,” Needham Fire Chief Thomas Conroy said in a statement on Friday. “I want to recognize the outpouring of compassion from Needham residents who are sending their love and support.”
Investigators say they believe the fire began in the “rear of an attached garage located at the right side of the … home,” pointing to how they identified “several potential heat sources that could have contributed to the fire, all of which were accidental.”
“We haven’t determined the cause of this fire yet, but we know that tragedies like this one are most common in the winter months,” State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine said in a statement. “Please be sure you have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on every level of your home and a practiced escape plan in the event of an emergency.”
Firefighters from Boston, Brookline, Dedham, Natick, Newton, Norwood, Milton, Wellesley, and Westwood provided mutual aid in battling the four-alarm fire, which took about seven hours to come under control.
“Christmas Eve began with a heartbreaking loss in Needham this morning,” Brookline Fire Fighters Local 950 IAFF stated in a social media post.
“Incidents of this scale also remind us why adequate staffing and strong mutual aid matter: getting enough trained firefighters and resources on scene quickly is critical for rescue operations, fire attack, and firefighter safety,” the Brookline firefighters wrote.
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