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Monson couple in their 70s killed in three-alarm house fire
Firefighters from multiple towns battled roof collapses and limited water supply as they tried to reach the couple; the fire’s cause remains under investigation, authorities say.
A fast-moving, three-alarm fire tore through a home in Monson last week, killing a husband and wife in their 70s and sending two police officers to the hospital after they tried to rescue the trapped couple, authorities said.
Just after 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 19, the Monson fire and police departments were dispatched to a reported fire at 278 Silver St., according to a statement from the fire department.
Using live camera technology, dispatchers were able to monitor conditions in real time and relay updates to responding crews. Based on those reports, Fire Chief Brian Harris requested a second alarm, bringing in additional engines, tankers, and a ladder truck before arriving on scene about 10 minutes after the initial call, the department said.
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When Harris arrived, he spoke with family members gathered in the front yard and saw two Monson police officers attempting to reach the occupants inside, authorities said. The officers tried to enter through the front door but were driven back by heavy smoke and extreme heat.
A third officer arrived shortly afterward and also attempted to assist, the fire department said.
The Wilbraham Fire Department was the first fire crew to reach the scene. Firefighters launched what officials described as an “aggressive interior attack” in an effort to search for victims.
However, rapidly deteriorating conditions forced crews to withdraw and transition to an exterior, defensive operation, authorities said.
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The home sustained catastrophic damage, including multiple roof collapses, as firefighters worked for hours to bring the blaze under control, according to the Monson Fire Department.
The fire eventually escalated to a third alarm, drawing six engines, six tankers, four ambulances, five command vehicles, and more than 70 personnel, the department said.
Efforts were complicated by the size of the home and limited water sources, requiring tanker trucks to shuttle water from more than a quarter-mile away, authorities said.
The following day, the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services confirmed in a statement that two people had died in the fire.
Authorities identified the victims as John Lynch, 75, and Linda Lynch, 73.
The husband and wife had been married for nearly six decades, according to their obituary. Both born in Boston, they raised their family in Dedham before eventually settling in Monson, where they made their home amid open fields and horses.
After receiving his education through Brookline Public Schools, John Lynch dedicated more than 20 years of service to the Archdiocese of Boston as a church sexton. Linda Lynch served as a receptionist for the Archdiocese of Boston for more than 20 years, according to the obituary.
“This is a heartbreaking tragedy for the Monson community,” said Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni. “Our thoughts are with the loved ones of those who lost their lives, and we remain grateful to the first responders who acted quickly under extremely difficult conditions.”
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Two Monson police officers who attempted to enter the home were treated for smoke inhalation and transported for medical evaluation, officials said.
The cause and origin of the fire remain under investigation, the Department of Fire Services said.
“Any loss such as this is a big hurt for our entire community,” the Monson Fire Department wrote in a Facebook post. “Our condolences go out to all involved.”
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