Fatal Sturbridge Fire Started In Microwave Oven

STURBRIDGE, MA—A fire that killed an elderly woman in a Sturbridge home stemmed from a microwave oven, according to authorities.

State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey, Worcester District Attorney Joseph P. Early Jr., Sturbridge Fire Chief John Grasso and Sturbridge Police Chief Thomas J. Ford III said Sunday’s fatal fire at 16 Fairgrounds Road in Sturbridge originated inside the microwave.

A woman, who is believed to have lived in the apartment, was taken by firefighters and transported to the hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. The District Attorney’s office will release the victim’s name once formal identification has been completed by the Medical Examiner’s Office and next of kin notification is complete, said the announcement.

Grasso said in a statement, “On behalf of the Town of Sturbridge I offer my condolences to the woman’s family and friends. This is such a tragic way to lose a loved one.”

It is unclear whether the microwave itself failed, or food inside the microwave ignited. The fire reportedly ignited the victim's clothing, and she had apparently tried to put out the flames; when firefighters found her, the water was still running.

The hard-wired smoke alarm inside the apartment did not operate. The alarm was found to be more than ten years old, and the back-up battery was dead.

Grasso said in a statement, “We are working with the owner of the building to ensure that every apartment has working smoke alarms that are less than ten years old and has working back-up batteries. In addition, we are working with the owner to ensure all the required fire detection systems are in place.”

State Fire Marshal Ostroskey said in a statement, “Smoke alarms must be replaced after ten years. Like any home appliance, they don’t last forever. After ten years the sensing mechanism can no longer be relied upon to function when needed, as seems to have been the case in this tragedy.”

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