Middleboro Man Hospitalized, 13 Displaced in Veterans Home Fire

MIDDLEBORO — A man has been hospitalized and 13 people displaced after a fire broke out at a three-story home for veterans in Middleboro early this morning.

Middleboro Fire Chief Lance Benjamino said fire crews were called to the blaze at the Acorn Hill veterans home on West Grove Street at around 1:12 a.m. Tuesday.

First responders arrived to find heavy fire in the upper two stories of the building.

Benjamino said the first person to arrive on the scene was a state police trooper, who learned that a man was trapped on the third floor.

The trooper used a ground ladder he found at the site to help the man climb out a third-floor window and to the ground.

State police said Trooper John Hagerty was on patrol in the predawn hours when he saw the fire and helped evacuate residents.

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Both the man and Hagerty were taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital for evaluation.

Hagerty was treated for smoke inhalation at Morton Hospital, and later released.

State police said the man Hagerty helped rescue suffered serious injuries. The man is not being identified.

Benjamino said the remaining 12 occupants had evacuated the house on their own. Two other people were evaluated at the scene, but were not taken to the hospital.

Firefighters managed to get the blaze under control within 45 minutes, according to the fire chief.

The home is a total loss due to heavy fire and smoke damage. All 13 residents have been displaced and are being assisted by the Red Cross.

Assistance was provided at the scene by Lakeville, Raynham and Carver Fire Departments and Middleboro police, with the Wareham Fire Department providing station coverage.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.