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Cape Cod preschool teacher, 1-year-old daughter killed in upstate New York house fire

Shannon and Margaret “Maggie” Hubbard were killed when a fire broke out in their Clinton, New York, vacation rental home Sunday night, according to officials.

updated on October 16, 2024

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A Cape Cod teacher and her 1-year-old daughter were killed this past weekend when a fire broke out in their upstate New York vacation rental home.

Chatham Elementary School preschool teacher Shannon Hubbard, 35, was trapped on the second floor with her two children as the fire tore through the Clinton home around 10:40 p.m. Sunday, according to New York State Police. First responders were eventually able to pull Hubbard; her 1-year-old daughter, Maggie; and her 3-year-old son, Jack, from the burning home, police said.

Hubbard’s husband, Dennis Police Patrolman John Hubbard, and their son both survived with nonlife-threatening injuries, according to police.

Shannon Hubbard and her 1-year-old daughter were killed in an upstate New York fire last weekend. – Monomoy Regional School District

“The men and women of the Dennis Police Department are mourning this heartbreaking news,” Dennis Police Chief John Brady said in a statement Wednesday. “Patrolman Hubbard is a valued member of our department and community, and more importantly our friend. We extend our deepest sympathies to him and his family.”

He requested privacy on the family’s behalf as they grieve.

“We pledge our full support to Patrolman Hubbard and are committed to providing any assistance he needs as his family and loved ones navigate this unimaginable loss,” Brady said. “We also know that the Dennis community is caring and compassionate, and will also be a source of support.”

According to New York State Police, the fire’s cause remains under investigation.

Hubbard, a Brewster resident, was a preschool teacher at Chatham Elementary School and previously a teacher at Harwich Elementary, Monomoy Regional School District Superintendent Scott Carpenter wrote in a message to the community Monday.

In light of the unexpected loss, Carpenter said the district would make counselors and support teams available to students and staff members in need.

“Shannon was a beloved member of our school community, a dedicated and engaged educator, and a truly kind person,” Carpenter said in a statement. “Our deepest condolences go out to her family, loved ones, colleagues, students, and everyone who was lucky enough to know her.”