MA Mansion Fire May Affect Water System

July 12, 2022
The fire that completely destroyed a $3.2 million mansion in Hingham may temporarily discolor water in the area.

The fire that completely destroyed a $3.2 million mansion in Hingham may temporarily discolor water in the area, local officials said Monday.

The four-alarm blaze engulfed the ocean-side home Monday afternoon, leaving only the chimney of the 6,000-square structure still standing.

Town officials said Monday that the fire may have a temporary effect on the local water supply. The Weir River Water System, the municipal water agency for Hingham and neighboring towns, said residents may temporarily see discolored water.

The Hingham Fire Department responded around 1 p.m. Monday to multiple calls reporting a home on fire. Arriving firefighters reported seeing large volumes of smoke as they headed for the building and struck a second alarm, the department said.

Within half an hour, they struck a third and fourth alarm, eventually calling more than 120 firefighters from nine communities to the scene.

Firefighters faced difficult conditions, Hingham Fire Chief Steve Murphy said. The house’s hillside location made it necessary for firefighters to stretch additional hose lines in order to get adequate water. High wind also spread the flames quickly and blew hot embers onto nearby homes.

Several neighboring homes were evacuated, and four homes were damaged, Murphy said.

“I am glad that no one was hurt and our hearts go out to the family that lost their home,” he said. “I’d like to thank our mutual aid partners from neighboring departments who helped us extinguish the fire and prevent further property damage to other homes in the area.”

Murphy said that firefighters from Hull, Cohasset, Norwell, Scituate, Rockland, Weymouth, Quincy, Braintree and Hanover responded to the scene.

National Grid and Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant temporarily shut off gas and electricity to the neighborhood during the fire.

The cause and origin of the fire are under investigation.

The five-bedroom, five-bathroom home sold for $3.2 million on June 10, according to Zillow.

Pictures of what the home looked like before the fire can be viewed on the real estate company’s website.

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©2022 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit masslive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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