Press Release  Cause of Acushnet Fatal Fire Undetermined but Not Suspicious

ACUSHNET — Local and state investigators believe that yesterday’s fatal fire on Garfield Street was accidental but could not rule out multiple potential factors, said Acushnet Fire Chief Thomas Farland, Acushnet Police Chief Thomas Carreau, State Fire Marshal Jon Davine, and Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III.  

Investigators today returned to the scene of the Christmas morning fire that claimed the lives of 89-year-old Leo Lyonnais and 87-year-old Annette Lyonnais, identifying the front left corner of the first floor as the area of origin. After delayering this area, they found a wood stove and a wall outlet with a multiple-prong adapter plugged in. Either of these factors could have contributed to the fire, officials said.

Under the standard used by State Police fire investigators, the cause of a fire is undetermined when they are unable to rule out all but one potential factor. For this reason, the Garfield Street fire will remain undetermined but not suspicious pending any new information.

“All of us here at the Acushnet Fire Department again want to offer our condolences to the Lyonnais family,” said Chief Farland.

State Fire Marshal Davine said that electrical and heating fires are among the most common types of residential fires in Massachusetts. Last year, solid fuel heating equipment such as fireplaces, wood stoves, and chimneys contributed to 541 house fires, while electrical events contributed to 682.

The origin and cause of the fire are being investigated by the Acushnet Fire Department, Acushnet Police, State Police fire investigators assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s office, and State Police assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s office. They are assisted by the Department of Fire Services’ Code Compliance & Enforcement Unit.

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