Wareham Firefighters Battle a Pair of Weekend Fires

WAREHAM — The Wareham Fire Department battled a house fire on Saturday afternoon in bitterly cold temperatures, and then fought a structure fire in the early morning hours on Sunday.

After rescuing a dog who had fallen through the ice Saturday morning in subzero temperatures, the fire department responded just before 3 p.m. to a report of smoke coming from the house at 11 Knowles Avenue.

Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke and fire coming from the structure, and began battling the blaze from inside the home.

According to authorities, they encountered multiple hazards inside, including compromised floors on all levels. As a result, the building was evacuated and firefighters switched to an exterior attack.

A second and a third alarm were struck as firefighters battled the bitterly cold weather and ice outside the home as well as the fire inside of it.

After about two and a half hours, the fire was brought under control. There were no injuries, and the authorities said the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Apparatus and personnel from Onset, Marion, Bourne, and Carver helped fight the fire. The State Department of Fire Services and the Providence Canteen supplied rehab, while Wareham Police and EMS also assisted. The Wareham Municipal Maintenance Department came and salted the area for safety.

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Then, the Wareham Fire Department battled a structure fire in the early morning hours Sunday.

At 5:35 a.m., firefighters responded to 147 Plymouth Avenue for a report of a structure fire. They arrived on scene to find a residence heavily involved in fire. The occupants had already safely evacuated the home.

The fire was brought under control in about 45 minutes, with no injuries. The cause of that fire also remains under investigation.

“The firefighters did a great job, responding to multiple incidents, handling them with professionalism and dedication,” Wareham Fire Chief John Kelley said of the weekend calls. "Be assured that your firefighters and our mutual aid partners perform at the highest levels, no matter the weather or hazards, and I am very proud of them.”

See photos of each of the Wareham fires: