Courtesy photo by Samuel Agger/CWN (click photo to enlarge)
WELLFLEET – A house burned to the ground on Lieutenant’s Island in Wellfleet overnight. Officials were alerted by a business along Route 6 of a strong odor of smoke sometime after midnight.
Wellfleet Police tell Cape Wide News that Monday morning at approximately 12:30 AM, the Wellfleet Fire Department was advised of a strong odor of smoke from the area of South Wellfleet. An investigation of the smoke lead to the discovery of a residence at 65 4th street on Lt. Island in South Wellfleet being on fire. Fire Departments from several towns responded to assist with putting the fire out. The fire was contained to the building area, with the building being a total loss.
During the investigation it was learned that 2 individuals were deceased within the building. This is an active investigation under the direction of the MA State Police Detectives assigned to the District Attorney’s Office and the State Fire Marshall’s Office. Wellfleet Police and Fire will be assisting with the investigation. Any further information will be released through the Barnstable County District Attorney’s Office or the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
The Fire Marshal’s Office says the origin and cause of the fire is being jointly investigated by the Wellfleet Fire and Police Departments and State Police assigned to both the Office of the State Fire Marshal and to the Office of the Cape and Island District Attorney.
Late Monday afternoon, the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office said foul play is not suspected at this time.
65 4th Street, Wellfleet
Wellfleet Assessors photo
Statement from Wellfleet Fire: On March 11, 2019, at approximately 12:19 AM, the Wellfleet Fire Department was dispatched to a report of smoke in the area of 955 State Highway (Route 6), Wellfleet. While in route Fire Dispatch received calls for a brush fire on Lieutenant Island and mutual aid was requested from the Eastham and Truro Fire Departments. The exact address of the fire was initially difficult to obtain due to the weather conditions (heavy fog), time of night and the remoteness of the area. The first arriving fire personnel found a single family, two-story residential structure fully involved in fire at 65 4th Street which is located on the far side of Lieutenant Island. The involved residence had already sustained a partial structural collapse upon the arrival of responding fire companies. A second alarm was requested for manpower and water supply.
Several pre-connected hand lines were deployed to protect surrounding structures and a rural water supply was established utilizing a combination of underground static water tanks and a pressurized fire hydrant at the corner of Route 6 and Marconi Beach Road. The fire took approximately one (1) hour to bring under control. Mutual aid was received from the Eastham, Truro, Orleans, Provincetown, Brewster and Harwich Fire Departments as well as the Cape Cod National Seashore.
One Wellfleet Firefighter was injured during the incident but refused medical treatment at the scene. Upon extinguishment of the fire, it was learned that two individuals were found to be deceased in the building. The Massachusetts State Fire Marshal’s Office and State Police Detectives assigned to the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office responded to the scene and at this time an active investigation into the cause of this fire is being undertaken.
This is an active investigation under the direction of the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office. In addition, personnel from the Wellfleet Police and Fire Departments are assisting with this investigation.
