ATHOL — A house fire at 253 Batchelder Road resulted in one person being life-flighted to the hospital for treatment last Friday, according to Athol Fire Chief Jeffrey Parker.
The blaze, which was reported at 6:41 p.m., escalated to a second alarm, prompting a large-scale response from multiple fire departments, including Orange, Templeton, Barre, and others, Chief Parker told the Athol Daily News.
The Athol Fire Department deployed a ladder, two engines, and an ambulance to combat the fire, which had engulfed the exterior of the house upon their arrival. Firefighters initiated an aggressive attack to control the flames as additional support teams arrived.
One occupant of the residence was transported by ambulance and subsequently airlifted to a hospital. One cat died in the fire, and another cat remains unaccounted for.
The residence sustained extensive damage, particularly to the lower level, with some areas of the second floor also affected by fire and smoke. Structural integrity has been compromised, rendering the building uninhabitable, Chief Parker noted.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
