Monday, March 11th, 2019

On March 11, 2019, at approximately 12:19 AM, the Wellfleet Fire Department was dispatched to a report of smoke in the area of 955 State Highway (Route 6), Wellfleet. While in route Fire Dispatch received calls for a brush fire on Lieutenant Island and mutual aid was requested from the Eastham and Truro Fire Departments. The exact address of the fire was initially difficult to obtain due to the weather conditions (heavy fog), time of night and the remoteness of the area. The first arriving fire personnel found a single family, two-story residential structure fully involved in fire at 65 4th Street which is located on the far side of Lieutenant Island. The involved residence had already sustained a partial structural collapse upon the arrival of responding fire companies. A second alarm was requested for manpower and water supply.

Several pre-connected hand lines were deployed to protect surrounding structures and a rural water supply was established utilizing a combination of underground static water tanks and a pressurized fire hydrant at the corner of Route 6 and Marconi Beach Road. The fire took approximately one (1) hour to bring under control. Mutual aid was received from the Eastham, Truro, Orleans, Provincetown, Brewster and Harwich Fire Departments as well as the Cape Cod National Seashore.

One (1) Wellfleet Firefighter was injured during the incident but refused medical treatment at the scene. Upon extinguishment of the fire, it was learned that two (2) individuals were found to be deceased in the building. The Massachusetts State Fire Marshal’s Office and State Police Detectives assigned to the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office responded to the scene
and at this time an active investigation into the cause of this fire is being undertaken.

This is an active investigation under the direction of the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office. In addition, personnel from the Wellfleet Police and Fire Departments are assisting with this investigation.

Any further information will be released through the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office.