Man Found Dead In Medford After Outdoor Fire

MEDFORD, MA — A man was found dead in Medford Friday morning after a fire in a wooded area near the Medford/Malden line, according to state and local officials.

First reports of the fire came in around 5:30 a.m., as noted in a joint statement from Medford Fire Chief John Freedman, Medford Police Chief Jack Buckley, State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey and Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan.

Crews responding to the scene, officials said, found heavy fire conditions in an area behind 295 Middlesex Ave.

While fighting the flames, officials said, firefighters found the body of an adult man in the debris of what they described as a "small encampment."

Malden firefighters provided mutual aid in Friday’s fire response.

Officials on Friday said the office of the Chief Medical Examiner would identify the man found dead and determine his cause of death.

While the cause of this fire remained under investigation as of Friday, officials said it did not appear suspicious.