The fire is not considered suspicious, and is being investigated by local police and fire officials in conjunction with the state fire marshal’s office.
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The victim, Deborah McNamara, lived alone in the Centerview Apartment, a complex for seniors and disabled people on 95 Elm St., said Fire Chief Richard P. Hamilton.
“We haven’t had a fatal fire in 15 years”, Hamilton said.
The chief said his crews were alerted at about 9 p.m. Saturday by heat detectors in the three-story building that triggered an automatic alarm.
Everyone else was able to escape safely and most residents were able to return to their homes.
Hamilton says the building fell under the 75-foot height limit that would have required it to install sprinklers retroactively, which could have cost millions. “They opened up the bedroom door, which was involved in flames, and the fire kicked back up”, he said. “I didn’t pay much attention; I thought maybe somebody burned toast”, she said. But he said the thick black smoke, which covered the apartment, had already reached the victim. The firemen were very efficient.
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“That could have made a difference”, said the fire cheif. “It went extremely well”.
