Off-Duty Sudbury Firefighter Pulls Residents From Burning NH Home

SUDBURY, MA — A Sudbury firefighter is being credited after helping rescue two residents and slowing the spread of a house fire Monday evening after discovering the blaze while driving home from work.

The fire broke out around 8:30 p.m. at a home on Wood Drive in Atkinson, New Hampshire, where crews arrived to find a partially extinguished exterior fire that had begun extending into the interior of the structure.

Before firefighters got to the scene, Sudbury Fire Lt. Matthew MacDonald, who was off duty at the time, saw the burning home while returning from his shift, according to the local union for Sudbury Firefighters, IAFF Local 2023.

He quickly alerted 911, entered the residence and helped evacuate two occupants who were unaware of the fire, according to the fire department. He also used a fire extinguisher to help limit the fire’s spread.

Atkinson fire crews completed extinguishing the fire shortly after arrival and ventilated the structure. The incident was brought under control by 8:45 p.m., according to fire officials.

“His swift actions directly limited the spread of the fire and ensured both residents were able to evacuate safely,” Atkinson Fire Chief Andrew Murphy said.

Officials said MacDonald’s intervention helped prevent further damage and potential injury.

“Due to his quick thinking and actions, no one was hurt. Even off-duty, a firefighter will always be a firefighter,” the Sudbury Firefighters IAFF Local 2023 said in a social media post.

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