Update: Man and Dog Killed in Rochester Fire

ROCHESTER — A man and his dog are both dead following a fire in Rochester this morning.

In a release, Rochester Fire Chief Scott Weigel said that the Rochester 911 Dispatch Center received a call at approximately 9:06 a.m. Sunday from a neighbor reporting the residence at 1008 Walnut Plain Road was on fire. The neighbor reported one occupant was outside the residence, while a male occupant was still inside.

Firefighters arrived at 9:14 a.m. and conducted a primary search of the basement and first floor of the home. The man was found unconscious just inside the front door entryway on the first floor. He was pulled from the building and brought to a waiting ambulance, where paramedics began trying to resuscitate him. He was transported to Tobey Hospital in Wareham, where he was pronounced dead.

The female occupant who managed to escape the fire was also transported to Tobey Hospital, where she is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The family’s dog was found dead during fire suppression operations.

Weigel said the fire was brought under control at 10:59 a.m. The fire reached three alarms and mutual aid was called from the towns of Marion, Mattapoisett, Middleboro, Freetown, Acushnet, Wareham and Department of Fire Services State Rehab Unit.

Weigel said the cause of the fire is still under investigation. The investigation is being conducted by the State Fire Marshal’s Office and Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office, along with the Rochester Fire Department and the Rochester Police Department.

Names of the victims are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.