5-Year-Old Saves Family From Sharon House Fire

SHARON, MA — An early evening fire could have been worse if it happened only a few hours later, firefighters said.

At about 4:28 p.m. Monday, Sharon Fire responded to a report of a house fire on Herald Street. Crews at the scene were able to locate the source of the blaze in the basement. By taking a hose through the bulkhead of the home, firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire, the department said.

Four children were home during the fire. A 5-year-old alerted her 16-year-old brother after smelling smoke and the teen was able to get everyone out of the home and to a neighbor's house, where they called 911.

If not for the child, the fire could have been worse. Sharon fire says there were no working smoke or carbon monoxide detectors in the home, calling the incident likely catastrophic if it happened during the middle of the night.

Combustible items stored near an oil fire heating system has been cited as the cause.

Foxborough, Walpole, and Canton provided mutual aid. Stoughton covered the station.

Image: File Photo