NEWBURYPORT — Police Lt. Matt Simons and Fire Chief Stephen Bradbury III report that the Newburyport Police and Fire Departments responded to a structure fire early Monday morning.
On Monday, Sept. 16, at approximately 3:37 a.m., Sgt. Megan Tierney from the Newburyport Police Department noticed flames near the front porch of a group home at 25 Spofford St.
Sgt. Tierney immediately notified Newburyport Fire Department, called for police backup, and began to alert residents of the group home — four patients and two caretakers — to the fire. She was assisted by Officers James Degloria, Carley Siemasko and Charles Ferlauto, while Dispatcher Michelle Delano facilitated a coordinated response of firefighters and EMS while also calmly managing police radio communications.
Thanks to Sgt. Tierney and Newburyport Police, all residents of the group home were outside when Newburyport Fire companies arrived to discover heavy fire showing from the outside of the home and porch.
Companies quickly knocked down the flames on the outside of the home and prevented extension into the home’s interior. Fire damage was contained to the outside of the home and the porch.
Cataldo Ambulance evaluated residents of the home for injuries, but there were no reported injuries.
Residents of the home will be temporarily displaced, but they are in the care of the company that runs the group home, and were transferred to other facilities.
Firefighters from Salisbury provided mutual aid at the scene, and firefighters from Rowley, Amesbury and Newbury covered Newburyport stations.
The cause remains under investigation by the Newburyport Fire Department, Newburyport Police, and the Massachusetts State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit attached to the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
“This could have been a tragic incident if not for the awareness and quick action of Sgt. Tierney,” said Chief Bradbury. “We are very grateful that no one was hurt in this fire.”
“The awareness, astute observations, and quick communication were paramount in a successful and coordinated response to a critical incident that could have had a much more tragic outcome,” said Lt. Simons. “The quick actions and bravery by Sgt. Tierney and the other responding officers undoubtedly saved lives. I’m proud of the professionalism and valor that was shown by our officers early this morning.”
