One person dead after being pulled from house fire in Salem

SALEM, Mass. — One 62-year-old man is dead after being pulled from a house fire in Salem this afternoon on Roslyn Street.

Just after 1:15 p.m., multiple 911 calls reported heavy smoke coming from a two-story home at 18 Roslyn Street.

Authorities say a retired Salem deputy fire chief who lives nearby entered the two-family home but was pushed back by smoke and fire inside.

A second alarm was struck to bring additional resources to the scene, and a person was extricated from the house.

The male was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The fire was knocked down within 15 minutes, but the building is uninhabitable at this time.

Fire Chief Alan Dionne says the hoarding conditions in the home made it difficult for firefighters to get to the victim on the third floor.

Chief Dionne credited neighbors, including Salem Fire’s former deputy fire chief, for jumping into action before firefighters arrived on scene.

Former Deputy Chief John Payne lives one door down from the home that went up in smoke.

“I never had to do what I just did right now,” he told Boston 25.

Payne said he initially rushed over to the home. When he realized how much heat and thick smoke were coming from his neighbor’s, he rushed back to his home and grabbed his old fire jacket, a flashlight, and fire extinguisher.

“I just couldn’t stand on the sidewalk and wait,” he said. “My instincts kicked in. I don’t know why. I grabbed my damn jacket like that was going to help. It was just a little bit more protection.”

He and another neighbor made it inside but couldn’t get to the third floor.

“Obviously heroic. I mean, what more can be said about someone that’s willing to go ahead and do that?” The fire chief said.

Neighbor Kara Thomas captured the fire and the response on her phone.

“It was horrifying,” she said. “I heard ‘Help! Help! Help!’ from the third floor... It gets me choked up.”

Another neighbor added, “I have dogs and cats right across from him and could have easily went over to my house.”

The cause of the fire is under investigation at this time.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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