Early morning fire gives Littleton sad distinction in 2018

LITTLETON, Mass. — It is not a distinction any community wants, but Littleton was the scene of the first fatal fire in Massachusetts this year Monday morning.

The extreme cold and hoarding situation at the home contributed to the difficulty in getting the flames under control, fire officials told Boston 25 News.

Littleton Fire Chief Scott Wodzinsky mentioned specifically an excess of furniture and magazines that hampered efforts to put the fire down.

A husband and wife, who were 75 and 80 years old, lived at the home. The husband got out okay and sought the help of a neighbor about 5:15 a.m. Monday.

Unfortunately, firefighters couldn’t save the man's wife.

“We did not have any problems getting water to this fire, just they couldn't shut the hydrant out. Some of the equipment we were using was not cooperative in these very cold temperatures,” Chief Wodzinsky told Boston 25 News.

We heard from two sources the woman who died in the fire had some medical issues that made getting around difficult.

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