Massachusetts

One Person Dies in 2-Alarm Fire in New Bedford

A 21-year-old man died in a two-alarm fire in New Bedford, Massachusetts on Wednesday morning.

Fire officials responded to the blaze at 176 Potter St. around 7:15 a.m., according to the state fire marshal's office. The residence was a one-family home with two floors and five bedrooms, according to the New Bedford property assessor's office. 

The Bristol District Attorney's Office said the victim's name was Jackson Leahy. He lived in the building and was upstairs at the time of the fire.

Six others were also inside the home at the time of the fire, but no one else was injured.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation but is believed to be due to the improper disposal of smoking materials.

Potter Street resident Rico Sanchez told the Boston Globe that he saw flames bursting through the first floor of the house.

"I just got to work, but it was already engulfed," Sanchez said.

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