Ball Street Residence Fire: No Injuries Reported, Smoke Detectors Credited with Saving Lives
Orange, MA - On September 30, 2025, at approximately 4:14 a.m., the department was dispatched to a reported basement fire in a residence on Ball Street. Engine 2 and Ladder 1 responded with four on-duty personnel, while off-duty and on-call firefighters also responded to the scene.
Upon arrival, crews found a 2½-story multi-family residence with all occupants evacuated and alarms sounding. In the basement, a fire originating from a hot water heater had been partially extinguished by a resident using a dry chemical extinguisher. Firefighters secured power to the residence and completed extinguishment with a dry chemical extinguisher.
Heavy smoke conditions were present in the basement as well as on the first and second floors. Multiple residents—including mobility-challenged individuals, adults, and children—had been asleep at the time of the fire. They were alerted by functioning smoke detectors on the first and second floors, which prompted their evacuation prior to the department’s arrival.
Firefighters remained on scene to ventilate smoke from each floor. No injuries were reported.
This incident highlights two critical points: first, the working smoke detectors unquestionably saved lives, as the volume of smoke could have resulted in tragedy within minutes or even seconds. Second, the quick action of the resident who initially knocked down the fire helped prevent further escalation, though residents are always advised to prioritize safety and await trained personnel.
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