Wood Stove Cause Of Fatal Oxford Fire

OXFORD, MA—State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey, Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early Jr., Oxford Interim Fire Chief Paul Ford, and Oxford Police Chief Anthony Saad said the cause of the December 14, 2017 fatal fire at 16 Sacarappa Road was the wood stove. The fire took the life of Josephine Mulvey, age 93, and two Oxford firefighters were transported for minor injuries, according to the announcement.

The fire, which completely destroyed the home, started at the wood stove in the living room at 7:45 p.m.

Chief Ford said in a statement, “I want to extend my condolences to the friends and family of Mrs. Mulvey. I would also like to commend the members of the Oxford and mutual aid fire departments who fought a fire that was well underway before we arrived and under difficult circumstances.”

The single family home was located in a very rural, wooded area with no hydrants. Firefighters from ten communities had to use a tanker shuttle to provide water to put out the fire on a bitterly cold night.

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