ATHOL — No one was home when a single-family home at 58 Lake St. caught fire Monday morning, and no injuries were reported.
According to Athol Fire Chief John Duguay and State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey, the cause of the fire was electrical. Firefighters were dispatched at 4:05 a.m. Information on residents of the house or who owns the building was not immediately available.
A statement from the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services reports the fire began in a void space between the living room wall and the basement staircase. Investigators found an electrical cable leading from the basement to a living room outlet that showed signs of an electrical short and failure.
The fire was investigated by the Athol Fire Department, the Athol Police Department and state police assigned to the Office of the State Fire Marshal. The Athol and Orange building departments assisted.
Fire damage to the roof was visible Monday morning and yellow caution tape was used to keep people off the property. Some of the home’s vinyl siding was charred and hanging off the structure, and a scent of smoke was still in the air at 10:45 a.m.
“I want to acknowledge the Athol and Mutual Aid firefighters for their work containing this fire and the investigative team’s excellent work determining the cause,” Duguay said in a statement. “I’d also like to thank the Salvation Army for providing food and drinks. Rehydration is key to firefighter safety.”
You can reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com
or 413-772-0261, ext. 258.
On Twitter: @DomenicPoli