NEW BEDFORD (CBS) – A woman was seriously injured in a massive fire that destroyed three houses in New Bedford at Thanksgiving. The reason may be related to the jerking of the turkey.
Neighbors heard an explosion when flames broke out in the Washburn Street home around 9:45 a.m. The fire quickly spread to the houses on both sides by the time the firefighters arrived.
One woman was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital, but the 27 other people in the three homes were able to get out.
Maui Carvalho was one of them. He said the fire started on the back deck of his neighbor when he roasted the turkey deep.
“He says he cooked the fried turkey and the propane tank exploded.” I heard the explosion, but I thought there was a thunder, ”he told WBZ-TV.
Scott Kruger, the new Bedford fire chief, has been commissioned to investigate whether the woman has “suffered a deep frying in a cooking accident,” but added that the cause of the fire is still being investigated. They hope to talk to the woman at the hospital to get more information.
UPDATE: The woman says her neighbor roasted turkey deeply when the propane tank exploded. One woman was taken to hospital with serious injuries. 27 people were forced to live. #WBZ https://t.co/s9CmmFDyBP
– Nick Emmons WBZ (@NickEmmonsTV) November 26, 2020
Kruger said firefighters responded to up to four other cooking “accidents” in New Bedford on Thursday.
“You can’t underestimate the dangers of cooking because people are amateurs,” said the trustee boss, “things don’t always go well.
“When people cook, they have to be careful,” Jon Mitchell, the new mayor of Bedford, told reporters on the spot.
The Red Cross places all residents who have been forced out of their homes in hotel rooms. Kruger said firefighters also rescued a dog from one of the burning houses.
Firefighters from Acushnet, Dartmouth and Fairhaven all helped put out the fire.
