ASHBURNHAM — On Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, at approximately 3:18 a.m., firefighters with the Ashburnham Fire Department were dispatched to the residence located at 192 Lakeshore Drive after a fire was reported in the building.
According to Ashburnham Fire Department’s Interim Fire Chief Chris Conrad, the home’s occupants were evacuated immediately without incident, and the first arriving police and fire units observed heavy fire showing from two sides of the residence.
“An interior attack was first initiated; however, crews had to pull out due to heavy fire in the basement which compromised the structure,” Chief Conrad said in a statement.
Firefighters from the Westminster, Winchendon, Gardner, and Ashby fire departments responded to assist at the scene. Meanwhile, the Rindge and Fitchburg fire departments covered Ashburnham’s headquarters during the incident.
“Crews on scene battled extreme cold and icy conditions for several hours including heavy snow around the structure which made it difficult to access all sides,” Chief Conrad said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the District 8 Fire Investigation Unit and the Massachusetts State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit. Officials said the cause has not yet been determined.