Firefighters quell blaze in living area above Orange garage

ORANGE — Firefighters from Orange and Athol extinguished a fire in an unoccupied living space above a detached garage at 435 East Main St. on Thursday afternoon.

Orange Fire Chief James Young said the fire was reported at 3:35 p.m. The long driveway was lined with fire trucks as a hose brought in water from a hydrant on East Main Street, prompting the temporary closure of Wheeler Avenue as the hose stretched across it.

Firefighters fought the fire from inside the second-floor living space as others vented the roof to gain access to the source of the flames.

“I was just glad they got my Harley out of there,” said property owner Mary Malo as she and co-owner Michelle Lopes watched firefighters battle the fire.

Standing next to the red motorcycle, the women, who bought the house and garage last March, said they had no idea how the fire started in the newly renovated living space.

Young, in a phone interview on Friday afternoon, said that the fire’s cause is still under investigation, but is considered to be accidental. He added that fire investigators are looking into electrical issues as a possible origin.

No one was living in the space above the garage yet; it had been used for storage. The owners said the property is insured.

The New Salem Fire Department provided coverage of the Orange Fire Station.

Anthony Cammalleri contributed reporting.