Middleborough FD identifies elderly victim of deadly house fire

MIDDLEBOROUGH, Mass. (WLNE) — The Middleborough Fire Department has released the identify of the 90-year-old woman who died in a house fire in Middleborough on Sept. 1.

Officials said 90-year-old Anne Tichelaar died at the scene after firefighters found her on the first floor of a burning home.

Three other occupants were inside the home at the time of the fire, but were able to escape without injuries.

Preliminary investigation shows the fire “began accidently with smoking materials in the first-floor living room,” according to the Middleborough Fire Department.

“On behalf of the Middleborough Fire Department, I again want to express our heartfelt condolences to Ms. Tichelaar’s loved ones,” Middleborough Fire Chief Owen Thompson said. “I also want to remind all our residents that smoking is the leading cause of fatal fires in Massachusetts. It’s especially dangerous to smoke in bed. Please, if you smoke or have guests who do, always use a heavy ashtray with water or sand and put it out, all the way, every time.”

The department added the home did not have working smoke alarms.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is working to find the cause of death.

The origin and cause of the fire remains under investigation.