PROVINCETOWN – State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey, Provincetown Fire Chief Michael S. Trovato and Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe said the cause of the November 22, 2019 fire at 86 Atkins Mayo Road in Provincetown is considered accidental. One person who lived in the home died in the fire. The identity of the victim will be released by the District Attorney’s Office once the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has completed a formal identification.
The home was located in a remote section of town so it took some time for neighbors to be aware of the fire and call the fire department. The fire was a challenge to fight as the nearest hydrant was 1,200-feet away down a long winding driveway. The fire had a good hold on the building by the time firefighters arrived and the destruction is quite extensive.
While the official cause will remain undetermined, the fire is not considered suspicious. Due to the destruction fire investigators cannot rule out three possible causes: an electrical failure, a woodstove fire or a malfunction of a portable heater.
Chief Trovato said, “On behalf of the all the Provincetown firefighters, I offer our condolences to the family. This is a sad end to a long life.”
The Provincetown Fire Department, the Provincetown Police Department and State Police assigned to both the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office jointly investigated the fire.
