The following HN Video highlights the tragic scene described below. It begins with a brief interview with Deputy Chief Dan Keane of the Eastham Fire Department. It ends with HN just barely making it back over the narrow bridge before the high tide waters made roadway completely impassible. Followed afterwards with UPDATES and additional information from official sources… [DEVELOPING]

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UPDATE FROM WELLFLEET FD: On March 11, 2019, at approximately 12:19 AM, the Wellfleet Fire Department was dispatched to a report of smoke in the area of 955 State Highway (Route 6), Wellfleet. While in route Fire Dispatch received calls for a brush fire on Lieutenant Island and mutual aid was requested from the Eastham and Truro Fire Departments. The exact address of the fire was initially difficult to obtain due to the weather conditions (heavy fog), time of night and the remoteness of the area. The first arriving fire personnel found a single family, two-story residential structure fully involved in fire at 65 4th Street which is located on the far side of Lieutenant Island. The involved residence had already sustained a partial structural collapse upon the arrival of responding fire companies. A second alarm was requested for manpower and water supply.

Several pre-connected hand lines were deployed to protect surrounding structures and a rural water supply was established utilizing a combination of underground static water tanks and a pressurized fire hydrant at the corner of Route 6 and Marconi Beach Road. The fire took approximately one (1) hour to bring under control. Mutual aid was received from the Eastham, Truro, Orleans, Provincetown, Brewster and Harwich Fire Departments as well as the Cape Cod National Seashore.

One (1) Wellfleet Firefighter was injured during the incident but refused medical treatment at the scene. Upon extinguishment of the fire, it was learned that two (2) individuals were found to be deceased in the building. The Massachusetts State Fire Marshal’s Office and State Police Detectives assigned to the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office responded to the scene
and at this time an active investigation into the cause of this fire is being undertaken.

This is an active investigation under the direction of the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office. In addition, personnel from the Wellfleet Police and Fire Departments are assisting with this investigation.

Any further information will be released through the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office.

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UPDATE – According to Assistant District Attorney Tara Miltimore of the Cape & Islands DA’s Office, “State police detectives, Wellfleet Police and the State Fire Marshall’s office are investigating a house fire in Wellfleet involving the death of two occupants. Foul play is not suspected at this time.”

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UPDATE – DEVELOPING: THE BODIES OF TWO PEOPLE EVENTUALLY FOUND INSIDE FIRE SCENE…

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The following aerial images – taken earlier today – sent in by drone pilot Samuel Aggar…

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HN NOTES: Some people refer to the location as “Lieutenant’s Island” instead of “Lieutenant,” as Google Maps has it. Also, the address initially reported as “85 4th Ave” may not be the actual address, it was the address plugged into a HN mapping program after a radio transmission. The entire island is a hodge-podge of sandy paths and roads, with rustic mailboxes here and there… and it was a confusing scene, to say the least. HN will release the official address as it becomes available.

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INITIAL HN COVERAGE:

WELLFLEET – Flames ripped through and completely destroyed a two story family home on Lieutenant Island early this morning…

… and it wasn’t easy getting there.

HN began heading toward the scene at about 12:50 a.m. when Wellfleet FD responded to a report of what may have been a “brush fire.” (It was too wet for any type of significant brush fire after the rains we just had… something felt strange about this call.)

The first Wellfleet Engine made it up and over the narrow bridge onto Lieutenant Island but ended up breaking down and becoming stranded just shy of the actual scene.

Upon further investigation, firefighters discovered a fully involved house fire at 85 4th Ave (according to a radio transmission) and the commander immediately called for a 2nd alarm because the island did not have hydrants and one engine was already out of commission.

The following HN Video highlights the scene. It begins with a brief interview with Deputy Chief Dan Keane of the Eastham Fire Department. It ends with HN just barely making it back over the narrow bridge before the high tide waters made roadway completely impassible. [DEVELOPING]

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