Fairfax Street blaze started by space heater

By George P. Hassett

The fire that killed a Somerville mother and her son in their Fairfax Street home Monday may have been caused by a space heater placed too close to combustible materials, according to fire officials.

Fire Chief Kevin Kelleher said the fire was accidental and may have started when a space heater was placed too close to bed sheets. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Somerville Fire Department, Fire Investigation Unit, the State Fire Marshals office, the Somerville Police Department and the State Police assigned to the District Attorney’s office.

The victims – Dorina Correia, 80 and her son, Louis Correia III, 48 – were both found by Somerville firefighters on the second floor of their two and a half story home.

Firefighters were called to the scene at 12:26 p.m. and were told by witnesses that people were trapped upstairs in the home. Kelleher said firefighters immediately went into rescue mode. Firefighters had trouble finding hydrants because of tall snow banks that blocked their view. The hydrants, Kelleher said, had been shoveled out by residents. Power lines overhead snapped because of heat from the blaze.

Both victims were found unconscious inside the house. They were transported by Cataldo Ambulance to Somerville Hospital where they were later pronounced dead.  Two family dogs survived the fire.

Three other family members live at the home at 65 Fairfax Street but were out when the fire started, Kelleher said.

The fatal fire comes less than a week after a Jan. 11 fire on Chester St. killed Susan Livingston, 64, who was found dead in her bedroom after a neighbor reported smoke at the home.