TOWNSEND — A resident was rescued from a burning single-family home on Burgess Road early Sunday morning and transported to Leominster Hospital, according to Townsend Fire–EMS Chief Gary Shepherd.
Shepherd said the department responded after a neighbor reported seeing flames coming through the roof at about 6:00 a.m. on March 1, 2026. Firefighters approaching the scene observed heavy smoke and fire and immediately struck a second alarm.
Deputy Chief Brett King identified an occupant through a window, and members of Company 3 made entry into the residence, Shepherd said. Firefighters Tyler Carter and Andrew Shepherd reached the resident, removed him from the home, and transferred care to awaiting companies. The man, described as the home’s sole occupant, was transported to Leominster hospital.
Firefighters battled the fire for about an hour before knocking it down, Shepherd said. The home sustained significant structural damage, including a partial collapse.
The origin and cause of the fire remain under investigation by Townsend Fire–EMS, the Townsend Police Department, and State Police fire investigators assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s Office, Shepherd said. The investigation also includes State Police assigned to the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office, with support from the Department of Fire Services’ Code Compliance and Enforcement Unit.
Shepherd said more information will be released as it becomes available.
