Cause of Westfield fatal fire determined
Investigators believe, based on an examination of the scene, witness interviews, and other evidence, the fire was accidental and most likely started with smoking materials on a living room couch, said Jake Wark, spokesperson for the state Department of Fire Services.
Just after 10:30 p.m. June 12, the Westfield Fire and Police departments responded to 911 calls from 36 Franklin St. The arriving engine company observed fire showing from a first-floor apartment, with witnesses reporting one person trapped inside.
Firefighters battled heavy smoke and flames, and later located the resident, a woman with limited mobility, dead inside the building.
Smoking materials were the leading cause of fire deaths in Massachusetts last year and almost every year for decades, Wark said in an emailed response to questions.
'There's no truly safe way to smoke, but it's especially dangerous to smoke when you're drowsy or impaired,' Wark said. 'If you or someone you love must smoke, please use a heavy ashtray on a sturdy surface. Fill it with water or sand, and be sure to put it out, all the way, every time.'
Supreme Judicial Court upholds 2018 murder conviction in Latin King case
Trustees reopen William Cullen Bryant Homestead in Cummington for tours
Markey wants answers from Verizon over lead in old phone lines
Read the original article on MassLive.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11-08-2025
- Yahoo
Days before murder trial, Mass. man pleads guilty to killing man in shooting
A Brockton man pleaded guilty to a man's death in a shooting in 2012 after jury selection was completed before his murder trial, Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz's office said Thursday. Jerome Almonor, 37, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, two counts of armed assault with an attempt to rob, one count of unlawful possession of a sawed-off shotgun, one count of unlawful possession of ammunition with an FID card, one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of witness intimidation. Almonor was sentenced to life in prison with the chance for parole after 20 years in prison, Cruz's office said in a statement. 'Since 2012, Jerome Almonor has known that he murdered 36-year-old Lonnie Robinson,' Cruz said in his statement. 'Our office was prepared for trial, a jury was selected and only today did Almonor take responsibility for his actions. I hope that he can reflect on those actions in prison and that the family of his helpless victim finds some peace.' On Aug. 10, 2012, Brockton police and Massachusetts State Police learned of a shooting on Perkins Street and found a man unresponsive, the statement read. The man, Robinson, was slumped inside a car with a shotgun wound and died after he was taken to the hospital. Investigators identified Almonor and co-defendant Dominic Tassy, 41, and arrested them. Tassy was convicted of second-degree murder and witness intimidation and was sentenced to life in prison, Cruz's office said. As Almonor awaited trial, cell phone data obtained via a warrant was used to initially find and locate him before his arrest, the statement read. Exigent circumstances in this case led to the data on his phone not being suppressed. The Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts ruled that this set the precedent for how cell phone data would be obtained during criminal investigations. More local crime stories 'Bee lady' nabbed in Tennessee 2 days after going on the lam when she skipped her own trial Man convicted of killing Cambridge mayor's son in 1995 granted parole 9 years after Google employee's death, foundation strives to empower women Ex-Mass. State Police trooper gets month in prison for driver's license scheme Massachusetts parole board deadlocks on release of 1996 Framingham killer Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Yahoo
How long will the fire investigation at Gabriel House take? Investigations explained
Soon after a massive fire swept through a Fall River assisted living facility on July 13, the Bristol County District Attorney's office announced an investigation was underway. The fire does not appear suspicious, but investigators haven't yet narrowed down the potential factors to a single cause, according to Department of Fire Services spokesperson Jake Wark. "This specific investigation is very ongoing," said Fall River Deputy Fire Chief Neil Furtado, who also serves as a city fire investigator. The Department of Fire Services, Fall River police and firefighters, and state troopers assigned to the district attorney's office are all involved. Here's how fire investigations in Massachusetts typically work and how long this investigation might take. How does a fire investigation typically work? How long do they take? Investigators prioritize the goal to identify the origin and cause of a fire, Wark said in an email. "I've investigated hundreds and hundreds of fires, and [the investigations] pretty much all start the same way," Furtado said. Typically, local fire investigators like Furtado will start from the area with the least amount of damage and work their way up to the area with the most damage, he said. He said a highly damaged area would be closer to the point of origin. "I see the depth of char on wood, for example. So, you may only have surface burning in one area, but as you get closer to where the fire started, you're going to have deeper char and more destruction, and less mass of the wood," Furtado said. He explained that a large portion of the investigation is reading burn patterns and knowing melting points. "It's very scientific," Furtado said. He explained that witness statements are also a key element. Once a point or area of origin is narrowed down, investigators typically seek out the last person who was in the room for questioning, Furtado said. "The consistency, at the end of the day, is what makes you a good and thorough fire investigator. You have to look at everything and rule things out," he said. Additional agencies, including state authorities and insurance companies, might also conduct investigations depending on the circumstances. Wark explained that it is difficult to determine the length of an investigation at the beginning. "As far as a timeline goes, we often say that an investigation takes as long as it takes," Wark said. Why is the district attorney's office involved? The Bristol County District Attorney's office is involved in the Fall River investigation because it has jurisdiction over death investigations, Wark said. "The DA's presence should not suggest anything criminal in nature," Wark said. They are supported by the Department of Fire Services' Code Compliance & Enforcement Unit, which assists with fire code issues and other life safety regulations. The unit's role in the investigation is to assess Gabriel House's compliance with rules and regulations on sprinklers, alarms, exits, and other details, according to Wark. What investigators at the Fall River residence have so far The damage was severe in parts of the Gabriel House assisted living residence, making for a more difficult investigation, Wark said. Investigators have examined the scene at 261 Oliver St., watched security footage from the area, and conducted multiple witness interviews, he said. Given the scale of the fire, local investigators as well as those from the state are working "carefully, methodically, and diligently," Wark said. He said he does not expect any significant developments in the investigation this week. "This is no different than when the NTSB does an investigation on a plane crash and they say, 'We probably won't have a completed report for a year.' That can happen. That's how many things are involved," Furtado said. This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Fall River fire: How long will the investigation take? What to know Solve the daily Crossword
Politico
17-07-2025
- Politico
Massachusetts court crisis
DAY IN COURT — Attorneys who represent defendants who can't afford one themselves want a pay raise that would put their rates closer to their counterparts in neighboring states. The lawmakers who already cut spending from the state's annual budget — and are bracing for the fallout from federal spending cuts — don't see any place to pull the money from. The standoff is on the precipice of exploding into a major political headache for Gov. Maura Healey. So-called bar advocates stopped taking new cases in late May as they called for the state to raise their rate by $35 an hour. The raise would put their pay at $100 an hour for district court cases — an ask that may seem like a leap, but would move them closer to other states like New Hampshire and Rhode Island (one's where the cost of living is less expensive than in Massachusetts, they point out). The work stoppage is leaving defendants without counsel, and some have started to be released, thanks to a Supreme Judicial Court rule that requires defendants be released after seven days without a lawyer. After 45 days without representation, those cases can be dismissed — and since the work stoppage began just after Memorial Day, that could be imminent for some defendants. It's an easy opening for Healey's Republican opponents, who have spent the first few months of the nascent race criticizing the Democratic governor over state spending and safety. Both state officials and bar advocates say they're looking for a quick solution. 'It's a matter of public safety,' Healey said on Wednesday. 'It's also a matter of due process, and people are entitled to representation.' It's unclear what the ultimate fix will be, since money is tight. Budget writers in the Legislature and in Healey's office took turns shaving down the state's annual budget in recent weeks as they brace for a possible hit from federal funding cuts and uncertain revenues. '[If] we were to grant what some folks have been requesting … it's a $100 million issue,' House Ways and Means Committee Chair Aaron Michlewitz told reporters Wednesday. One idea that's been batted around: Granting the attorneys a more modest raise now, and tacking on a separate pay rate increase later on. But ultimately they'll need a longer term fix. "The Legislature could come up with a very temporary solution that might plug the immediate hole that we're in,' Shira Diner of the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers told Playbook. 'But then we will only be back in the situation again next year, right?' GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Drop me a line: kgarrity@ TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll the Commonwealth's Caribbean Breakfast at 12:30 p.m. at the State House and announce an anti-hunger program at 2:15 p.m. in Medford. Attorney General Andrea Campbell visits the Pittsfield Branch of the Berkshire Family YMCA at 10 a.m. and stops at Berkshire Medical Center at noon in Pittsfield. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announces the first units of housing that are under construction through the city's 'Office to Residential Conversion Program' at 10:30 a.m. in Boston. DATELINE BEACON HILL WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IS READING — This new Morning Consult tracking poll that shows 59 percent of registered voters approve of Gov. Maura Healey's performance. That's a jump up from a University of New Hampshire poll earlier this year that had Healey's approval at 49 percent, and on par with an internal poll Healey's campaign conducted around the same time. — Massachusetts House announces hiring freeze in face of federal funding cuts by Samantha J. Gross, The Boston Globe: 'As the state braces for the impact of federal funding cuts, state House leaders announced Wednesday that they are freezing hiring, citing 'federal economic uncertainty' in Washington. According to an email obtained by the Globe, House Human Resources director Katherine Palmer described the freeze as 'temporary' and 'proactive,' and said that it will not affect previously approved jobs or backfills for positions in offices where a state representative only has one aide.' — Healey's $3b bill seeks to future-proof Mass. against flash floods and more by Sabrina Shankman, The Boston Globe: 'Governor Maura Healey has proposed a $3 billion bond bill that aims to get the state ready for what's to come — and what's already happening — via a suite of programs and regulatory changes, including the introduction of a mandatory flood risk disclosure for home sales and rentals, a $200 million revolving fund for resilience projects, and a streamlined permitting process for culverts and salt marsh restoration. If passed by the Legislature, the so-called Mass Ready Act would be a historic investment in climate-readiness, said Stephanie Cooper, the state's undersecretary for the environment — 'the biggest ever.'' — Massachusetts House votes to expand safeguards for abortion, gender-affirming care by Katie Lannan, GBH News: 'People seeking reproductive and gender-related health care in Massachusetts – and the medical professionals who provide that care – are a step closer to gaining another layer of protections under state law. The Massachusetts House voted 136-23 Wednesday on a bill aimed at shielding patient and provider data from out-of-state actors.' — State offers tax credits for theaters by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle-Tribune: 'The pilot program, which will be jointly administered by the state offices of Travel and Tourism and Business Development, will offer up to $7 million in funding for live-stage musical theater, dance or theatrical productions in the state.' — State lawmaker charged with OUI, property damage near State House by Veronica Haynes and Sharman Sacchetti, WCVB: 'A Massachusetts lawmaker is facing multiple charges, including operating under the influence of liquor, after a crash near the State House in Beacon Hill. According to documents obtained by 5 Investigates, state Rep. John Lawn, 56, of Watertown, as arrested at 1:45 a.m. Wednesday in the area of Beacon and Bowdoin streets. Lawn is charged with operating under the influence of liquor and leaving a scene where there was property damage, both misdemeanors.' FROM THE HUB — Rules for 700-foot skyscrapers across downtown will have to wait by Catherine Carlock, The Boston Globe: 'The long-gestating rules outlining what can be built where in the core of downtown Boston will get at least another few weeks of discussion. The Boston Planning and Development Agency board this week was set to discuss a set of zoning changes that aim to balance historic preservation with denser new development that would add to downtown's housing — including allowing for 700-foot skyscrapers in certain areas and easing office-to-residential conversions — but at the last minute, the plan was left off the board's agenda when it was released Tuesday afternoon.' THE RACE FOR CITY HALL FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — The Greater Boston Building Trades Unions has endorsed Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne for reelection. FALL RIVER FALLOUT — Fall River will hire more firefighters following deadly assisted living facility fire by Patrick Madden and Christine Willmsen, WBUR: 'Speaking during an impassioned press conference Monday, representatives from the International Association of Fire Fighters claimed a shortage of on-duty firefighters hampered the response to the deadly fire. National standards for fire departments mandate four firefighters on every truck. Officials say Fall River was operating below those levels, with only two of its 10 vehicles fully staffed. The additional staffing will mean four more engines have four on-duty firefighters.' PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — MBTA evaluating system for faulty cables after Blue Line evacuation by Andrea Perdomo-Hernandez, WBUR: 'The MBTA's general manager says a decades-old cable forced an electrical shutdown and the evacuation of nearly 500 Blue Line passengers in the harbor tunnel on Tuesday. Phil Eng says the T is now evaluating the entire system for similar issues.' IN THE COURTS — Republic Services sues striking Teamsters, as latest contract talks fail by Matthew Medgar, Boston Herald: 'Bargaining between striking sanitation workers and the waste management giant they work for have ended in an impasse, as the company asks a federal judge to intervene to stop allegedly criminal negotiating tactics. Members of the Teamsters Local 25 have been off the job since July 1 when their contract expired, and despite several rounds of negotiations, some in the presence of a federal mediator, the latest talks held Tuesday went 12 hours without reaching a conclusion other than that the strike will go on.' — Two Massachusetts sanctuary cities head to court Thursday to defend their funding by Will Katcher, MassLive: 'A pair of Massachusetts cities are at risk of losing federal funding that has supported safety equipment for police officers, food delivery for senior citizens and paid for detectives investigating drug crime. All of it is on the line Thursday, when attorneys representing Somerville and Chelsea will appear in U.S. District Court in Boston to argue their funding streams should be preserved while they contest the Trump administration's attempt to withhold the money over their local immigration laws.' FROM THE DELEGATION — U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, local leaders line up behind Sen. Ed Markey's 2026 campaign by Melanie Gilbert, The Lowell Sun: 'U.S. Sen. Ed Markey firmed up support as he seeks a third term representing the commonwealth. A who's who of statewide politicos, led by U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, endorsed the Malden-born senator who announced his 2026 bid last October. Massachusetts senior U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren won a third six-year term in 2024. … The entire Lowell delegation endorsed Markey, including state Sen. Ed Kennedy and state Reps. Vanna Howard, Rodney Elliott and Tara Hong. Markey also picked up support from state Sen. Jamie Eldridge; state Reps. James Arciero, Simon Cataldo, Colleen Garry, Dan Sena, Margaret Scarsdale and Jonathan Zlotnik; former state Rep. Stephan Hay; Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian; and Methuen Mayor DJ Beauregard and Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson. Trahan's endorsement video, which was paid for by the Markey Committee, listed some of the issues that Markey has fought for in the community.' THE LOCAL ANGLE — Residents paint over new yellow street lines in Newton as Italian festival begins by Rhondella Richardson and Phil Tenser, WCVB: 'Newton's annual celebration of Italian heritage begins Wednesday amid a heated debate over street lines, with some members of the community repainting the traditional tricolors over the city's fresh double-yellow lines. Every July for nine decades, the St. Mary of Carmen Festival—known as Festa—has paraded along the white and red line in the middle of Adams Street. Last month, the lines were painted over and replaced with standard double-yellow markings. On the eve of Festa, some residents took action without permission and painted over the yellow lines.' — Former parks director suing city, Reardon by Matt Petry, The Newburyport Daily News: 'Former Newburyport Parks Director Lisa Reid has filed a lawsuit against Mayor Sean Reardon and the city claiming her 2022 dismissal was 'wrongful, discriminatory and retaliatory.' Reid served the city from 2006 until being let go on Aug. 5, 2022. Her ouster came roughly a month after Reardon unveiled his plan to roll the Parks Department into the Department of Public Services, claiming that by cutting the Parks Department, the city would save upward of $105,000 a year. Reardon informed Reid on July 8, 2022 that her position would be eliminated.' — Use of AI reading tool in Worcester schools raises privacy concerns by Jesse Collings, Telegram & Gazette: 'The use of an AI-assisted reading tool in local classrooms has raised questions about how permissive school districts and parents should be in exposing students to artificial intelligence. Amira Learning is a digital reading tool that Worcester used in its elementary schools as part of a pilot program this past spring. The main function of the tool is presenting with students with words, then asking them to enunciate the words, which it records, then tells the students whether they said the word correctly.' HEARD 'ROUND THE BUBBLAH TRANSITIONS — MaryRose Mazzola has joined Eastern Bank as senior vice president, director of external affairs. She previously served as chief external affairs officer at Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. — Sheila Ramirez has joined the National Network of Abortion Funds as policy counsel. WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Lizzy Guyton, a founding partner of South and Hill Strategies and a Charlie Baker alum, and Tim Johnson, managing partner of CSQ Realty, recently welcomed Grace Amalia Johnson, who joins big sister Colette. Pic … Another pic HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to House Democratic Whip Rep. Katherine Clark, Wade Blackman, Lauren Pardi; Massachusetts Republican Party Executive Director John Milligan, Alicia Amato (Furnary), Katie Zezima, Kevin Ryan, Christine Haughney Dare-Bryan, Chanel Prunier, former Republican National Committeewoman; Brendan Beroff, Jacob Watts, Matthew E. Berger and John Dacey. Happy belated to state Rep. Rob Consalvo, who celebrated Wednesday.
