New Bedford and state public security officers on Wednesday recovered a second sufferer who died inside a four-story, 31-unit residence constructing destroyed by a catastrophic fireplace Tuesday.
Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III recognized the primary deadly sufferer recovered from the constructing Tuesday evening as 59-year-old Manuel Moreira.
“On behalf of the New Bedford Fire Department, I want to express our heartfelt condolences to Mr. Moreira’s family and loved ones,” New Bedford Fire Chief Scott Kruger mentioned in a launch. “It was deeply important to all of us at the scene that we recover him with respect and dignity as soon as it was possible to do so.”
Officials are nonetheless working to find out the id of the second sufferer, mentioned Jake Wark, spokesman for the state Department of Fire Services. The origin and explanation for the blaze additionally remained below investigation Wednesday night.
At least 20 occupants who had been inside what authorities are describing as a rooming home had been capable of get out when the fireplace broke out round 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, with 5 of them being taken from the scene for medical care.
The New Bedford Fire Department in a Facebook publish Wednesday said one of many victims transported to St. Luke’s Hospital within the South Coast metropolis was in critical situation. Another sufferer, who had been transferred to Rhode Island Hospital after which Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, is in vital situation.
“The New Bedford Fire Department extends its condolences to the family and friends of the deceased victims and best wishes for the ones who were injured,” the publish reads.
Some occupants had been seen hanging from home windows and leaping from the constructing to flee the huge blaze when New Bedford firefighters arrived on scene. Other residents had been rescued over floor ladders, in accordance with the state Department of Fire Services.
The fireplace prompted a common alarm, which means all New Bedford equipment and off-duty personnel responded to the scene together with dozens of firefighters from Acushnet, Dartmouth, and Fairhaven.
The crew obtained the fireplace below management by 6 p.m., however firefighters stayed on the scene by way of the evening to extinguish hotspots.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”