Crime & Safety
Warwick Fire: Mother, 4 Children Killed
Warwick, Massachusetts fire officials said a mother and her four children died after a wood stove sparked a fire in their home Saturday.
WARWICK, MA — A mother and her four young children were killed Saturday morning in a massive fire in the Western Massachusetts community of Warwick.
The fire broke out at a residence at 405 Richmond Road at about 12:30 a.m., according to Warwick Fire Chief Ron Gates. Two occupants of the house escaped. The fire appeared to originate from a wood stove near the kitchen, according to Gates.
"The house was totally engulfed," Gates said during a news conference at town hall, his words breaking with emotion as he recalled discovering the victims.
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"Our community has suffered a great loss," Warwick Town Coordinator David Young told reporters. "(It's) a huge blow to our spirit."
The identities of the victims was not immediately released.
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Warwick, with a population of about 800, is located in Franklin County and shares a border with New Hampshire. It is about 40 miles from both Springfield and Worcester.
An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing. It appears accidental, according to state Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey.
Warwick Town Coordinator David Young: "Our community has suffered a great loss of life." Five confirmed dead in house fire. #WCVB pic.twitter.com/XnRxqubjKS
— David Bienick (@BienickWCVB) March 4, 2017
Warwick Fire Chief Ron Gates struggles to speak as he describes the loss of mother & 4 children. #WCVB pic.twitter.com/Ad3cg8LWnv
— David Bienick (@BienickWCVB) March 4, 2017
Photo: The scene of a fire in Warwick, Massachusetts on March 4, 2017 that killed a mother and her four children. (Credit: WHDH/7News)
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