Hanson, MA - At 9:11 P.M. on the evening of Monday, May 4th, the Hanson Fire Department responded to a reported house fire at 165 Pennsylvania Avenue. A crew of four firefighters arrived to find heavy fire and smoke showing from the front of a two-story wood-frame, log cabin style house. Firefighters were advised by an occupant that one resident of the house had not come out of the structure.

A working fire was immediately requested. Firefighters hit the heavy fire with exterior lines on the front of the building, while other firefighters set a ground ladder to a porch on the 'C' side of the building to make a primary search. Firefighters searched the first floor, but were unable to find the victim. As fire conditions deteriorated, firefighters were forced to back out of the building, as heavy fire consumed the first and second floors of the building.

When crews pulled out due to high heat and smoke conditions, a deck gun and multiple large hand lines were put into defensive operations. Hanson Tower-1's ladder pipe was also put into operation. An additional engine was requested to the scene for water supply. Mutual aid companies from Halifax, Pembroke and Whitman worked on-scene, while a mutual aid engine from Hanover covered Hanson's station. Whitman CERT Team Rehab Unit provided rehab to firefighters working on-scene.

The victim has been identified as Margaret O'Toole-Driscoll, 58. The family dog was also unable to escape the blaze. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Hanson Fire Department, Hanson Police Department, the Plymouth County District Attorney's along with the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal's office. The fire is not considered to be suspicious at this time, and foul play is not suspected.

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