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Needham police called the fire “an unimaginable tragedy” and said “the time will come” for donations and other support.
A large early-morning Christmas Eve fire killed a 21-year-old woman at a Needham home, officials said.
“I want to express our deepest condolences to the family that lost a loved one today,” Needham Fire Chief Chief Thomas Conro said. “It’s just a heart wrenching event for them and the community.”
Crews responded to 28 Woodworth Road just before 5 a.m., where heavy smoke and flames engulfed the three-story, single-family home, the state Department of Fire Services announced.
Two adults escaped, but another individual, who The Boston Globe reported was a 21-year-old woman, was found dead inside the home. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the woman’s cause of death.
About 75 firefighters, representing a dozen departments, battled the four-alarm fire for more than seven hours. The origin of the fire is under investigation, but officials warned that these tragedies “are most common in the winter months.”
Needham police called the fire “an unimaginable tragedy” and said “the time will come” for donations and other support.
“For now, especially during this Christmas and holiday season, we ask that you please keep the family, their loved ones, and the first responders (especially our brothers and sisters at Needham Firefighters – Local 1706) who answered the call, in your thoughts and prayers as they begin to navigate this heartbreaking loss,” Needham police wrote on Facebook.
Residents should ensure smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are installed on each level of a home, State Fire Marshal Jon Davine said, and families should practice an escape plan in case of emergencies.
“Please hug your family a little tighter tonight and hold one another close,” Needham police said.
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