DA Releases Name Of Man Killed In Northborough Fire

NORTHBOROUGH, MA — A two-alarm fire that broke out at 129 Maple St. early Friday morning claimed the life of one of the residents.

Kevin P. Hunt, 40, who lived in a second floor unit, died in the blaze, according to Lindsay Corcoran, Deputy Communications Director for the Office of Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early, Jr.

Northborough firefighters did everything they could to rescue Hunt, but when firefighters arrived, flames 30 to 40-feet high were blowing out the second floor front window, Fire Chief David Parenti said.

Hunt's unit is where the fire started, but a cause has not yet been determined.

The building, owned by David G. Pierce of Berlin, had no working smoke detectors, Parenti said.

Pierce bought the property, which was built in 1849, in 1996 for $163,000. Pierce owns numerous properties in town comprising of other apartment buildings, including five units at 75 Hudson St. and the office building at 56 W. Main St., according to Northborough Property Cards.

Jake Wark, Public Information Officer for the Department of Fire Services, said it isn't known yet whether Pierce will be fined for not having smoke detectors at 129 Maple St. or whether his other properties will now be inspected by the state fire marshal.

The man in the second floor unit, across from the blaze, happened to wake up. He was able to get his partner and their 12 year old child out of the building as well as wake up other residents.

"Normally when people wake up during a fire, they are too incapacitated or disoriented to react," Parenti said. "It is incredibly lucky they woke up and were able to react, or there would have been a lot more than one victim" emphasizing why working smoke detectors are crucial.

The Worcester County District Attorney's Office and the state fire marshal with the Mass. Department of Fire Services are investigating the fire continue to investigate the cause of the blaze.