Fires In Westport And Dartmouth Under Investigation

Fires that caused extensive damage in homes in both Westport and Dartmouth are under investigation.

Fire caused extensive damage to a 270 year old building Saturday morning in Westport.

Fire crews responded to a blaze at 286 Old Harbor Road just after one-thirty Saturday morning.

Captain Michael Silvia says when firefighters arrived, they found heavy fire and smoke coming from the wood-frame structure.

Silvia says the fire had been reported by a resident who returned home and found the building on fire. He was slightly injured while trying to retrieve items from the house. The resident was taken by ambulance to Charlton Memorial Hospital and later released.

Silvia says firefighters brought the fire under control in under an hour, but officials say the building, believed constructed in 1740, sustained extensive damage. The cause is under investigation and the Red Cross is assisting the resident with temporary shelter.

Also, heavy fire damage was reported to a home at Old Westport Road and Wolcott Avenue in Dartmouth Friday night.

District Three firefighters spent several hours at the scene, and a section of Old Westport Road was closed to traffic because of the blaze.

Assist. Fire Chief Rick Bobola told the Standard Times, no one was at home at the time of the fire. He reports heavy fire damage to the second floor of the structure, with smoke and water damage on the first floor. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.