Fire in Rockland, MA leaves one dead and one injured – NBC Boston

One person died and another was injured in a fire in Rockland, Massachusetts, Friday morning.

The fire broke out around 3:37 a.m. on Vernon Street, the Rockland Fire Department said.

When firefighters arrived on the scene, they encountered large flames and smoke rising from the back of the house, authorities said.

Preliminary reports indicate that a resident of the home fled after hearing the smoke alarms and alerting firefighters that a second person was still inside the home. The person who fled the building was taken to a nearby hospital and firefighters entered the two-story single-family home to search for the second person and fight the fire.

Firefighters found the second resident unconscious in the house. They initiated life-saving measures and the victim was later taken to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

It took the fire department about an hour to extinguish the flames.

The fire chief said that fighting the flames had been difficult due to the weather, which is why additional reinforcements from ten fire departments in the area had been requested.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but it appears the fire started in the rear of the first floor. Fire officials said the fire does not appear suspicious.